Can ICSI Help Couples Conceive?
Sometimes infertility has a single obvious cause. Factors such as ovarian issues, poor sperm quality, or even physical problems can all prevent a couple from conceiving. However, people are reminded that infertility isn’t just a woman’s problem since men can also suffer from the condition. For men especially, improving sperm quality is the primary goal. However, when complex male factor fertility issues exist, assisted reproductive technology (ART) might be the smartest course of action. In particular, intracytoplasmic sperm insemination is a solution that can achieve success when other treatments aren’t working.
Complex male infertility explained
If infertility is suspected, the primary goal is to initially determine what underlying causes might be contributing to the problem. Oftentimes, the issue may be more obvious, like poor sperm motility or quantity. However, complex male factor infertility means that multiple reproductive problems might be present. For example, a man may present with semen that includes several features such as poor motility, no sperm in a semen sample, physical abnormalities or unknown infertility. Physically, a man with complex male factor infertility may struggle not just with poor sperm quality, but also with achieving and maintaining an erection, and may even have low testosterone levels.
Causes of male infertility
A variety of factors can contribute to complex male factor infertility. The most common causes include having an underlying genetic disorder, physical issues such as blockage in the male reproductive tract, hormonal imbalances, immunity issues that attack and damage sperm, and even sterility. Usually, sterility is a result of a man having previously undergone cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, or even suffering from a severe infection or physical damage to the testicles.
The case for ICSI
With male-factor infertility, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a targeted and very effective solution. The process works by injecting a single sperm directly into an egg. ICSI is a popular alternative option, especially for couples who were unsuccessful with in vitro fertilization (IVF). ICSI can be a smart workaround from natural conception and standard IVF when motility concerns can reduce fertility treatment success rates
ICSI is an IVF variant
Because ICSI requires fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body, the procedure is treated as a specialized type of IVF, which is also notably associated with external embryo creation. However, the process is slightly different because ICSI is reserved for infertility cases where male factor infertility is present. The procedure isn’t recommended if female reproductive issues are the sole cause of delayed conception. Even with IVF-ICSI, a woman will still undergo ovulation stimulation and egg retrieval.
How ICSI works
ICSI can be performed either regular or split. In regular ICSI, semen is retrieved from the man, and then a single sperm is inserted into an egg. To increase success rates, split ICSI is a technique where technicians directly insert sperm into some of the eggs retrieved during IVF, and then allow the remaining eggs to be simply incubated with the semen to attempt standard insemination. Regardless of the method, ICSI is an incredibly effective option for couples struggling to conceive because of complex male factor infertility.
Making an informed choice
Fertility treatments can be complex, which is why people need to get as much information as possible to make an informed decision. ICSI is only an option when male factor infertility is present. Yet, when used, the specialized IVF variant can be a path towards starting or expanding a family for hopeful couples.
