IVF Treatment in Chennai – Is IVF different from ICSI?

IVF treatment in Chennai

“A unwellness of the reproductive system which is explained by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse is known as infertility. There are two kind of infertility they’re primary infertility and secondary infertility.

 Primary infertility is infertility in a couple who have never had a child in their lifetime. Secondary infertility is failure to get pregnant even they had a previous pregnancy and child in their lifetime. Infertility may be caused by infection in the man or woman, but often there is no obvious underlying cause (unknown cause). IVF treatment in Chennai at the best fertility centre takes the cause of infertility into account while treating.

CAUSES OF MALE INFERTILITY:

Causes of male infertility may include:

  • Abnormal sperm production or function due to undescended testicles, genetic defects, health problems like diabetes, or infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps or HIV. Enlarged veins in the testes (varicocele) also affect the quality of sperm and leads to decreased sperm production and quality.
  • Problems with the delivery of sperm due to sexual problems, like premature ejaculation; certain genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis; structural problems, such as a blockage in the testicle, and cause damage or injury to the reproductive organs.
  • Overexposure to certain environmental factors, like pesticides and other chemicals, and radiation. Smoking, alcohol, marijuana, anabolic steroids, and taking medications to treat bacterial infections, high blood pressure and stress also can affect fertility. Frequent exposure to heat, such as in saunas or hot tubs, will raise body temperature and may affect sperm production and motility.
  • Damage related to cancer and its treatment, including radiation or chemotherapy procedures. Treatment for cancer can damage sperm production and motility.

CAUSES OF FEMALE INFERTILITY:

Causes of female infertility may include:

  • Ovulation disorders, affect the production or release of eggs(oocytes) from the ovaries. These include hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome(pcos). Hyperprolactinemia, a condition in which you have too much prolactin the hormone that stimulates breast milk production also interfere with ovulation. Either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) can affect the menstrual cycle or cause infertility in women. Other underlying causes may include too much of exercise, eating disorders or tumors.
  • Uterine or cervical abnormalities, including abnormalities in the cervix, polyps in the uterus or the shape of the uterus. Noncancerous tumors in the uterine wall (uterine fibroids) may cause infertility by blocking the fallopian tubes(tubal blockage) or stopping a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.
  • Fallopian tube damage or blockage, usually caused by inflammation of the fallopian tube (salpingitis). This can result from pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), which is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection(STI), endometriosis or adhesions.
  • Endometriosis, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus, may affect the function of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes and causes infertility.
  • Primary ovarian insufficiency (early menopause)a loss of normal function of the ovaries before the age 40(ovulation does not occur). Although the cause is often unknown, certain factors are associated with early menopause, including immune system diseases, certain genetic conditions like Turner syndrome or carriers of Fragile X syndrome, and radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
  • Pelvic adhesions, bands of scar tissue that bind organs that forms after pelvic infection, appendicitis, endometriosis or abdominal or pelvic surgery.
  • Cancer and its treatment. Certain cancers particularly reproductive cancers usually impair female fertility. Both radiation and chemotherapy treatment of cancer may affect fertility.

WHAT IS ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is used to treat infertility in male and females. It includes fertility treatments that can handle both eggs and sperms. It works by removing eggs from the ovaries by stimulating ovaries. The eggs (oocytes) are then fused with sperm to make embryos. The embryos are then placed in the parent’s body for implantation. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the most common and effective type of ART.

IVF:

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process of fertilization where an egg(ovum) is combined with sperm in vitro. The process involves monitoring and stimulating a woman’s ovulatory process, removing an ovum from her ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a culture medium in a laboratory for fertilization. After the fertilized egg (zygote) undergoes embryo culture for 2–6 days, it is transferred by catheter into the uterus, for implantation with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.

ICSI:

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an infertility treatment for males and females. It involves injecting live sperm into a eggs in a laboratory. This procedure helps to create an embryo (fertilized egg). ICSI(intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is another form of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Healthcare providers most commonly use ICSI(intracytoplasmic sperm injection) when male infertility affects a person’s ability to conceive a child.

WHO NEEDS IVF?

Fallopian tube damage or blockage, Ovulation disorders, Endometriosis, Uterine fibroids, Previous tubal sterilization or removal, Impaired spermatozoan production or function, Unexplained infertility, Genetic disorder, Fertility preservation for cancer or other health conditions which affects fertility.

WHO NEEDS ICSI?

Anejaculation (inability to ejaculate), Blockage in their male reproductive system, causes Low sperm count, Poor sperm quality, Retrograde ejaculation, (semen flows backward into their bladder), In vitro matured eggs are being used, Previously frozen eggs are being used, Unexplained infertility.

HOW IVF & ICSI PROCEDURES PERFORMED?

  • Birth control pills or estrogen
  • Ovarian stimulation
  1. Monitoring
  2. Trigger shot
  • Egg retrieval
  • Fertilization
  • Embryo development
  • Embryo transfer
  • Pregnancy

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH IVF&ICSI:

  • Increased risk of miscarriage
  • Heart problems for affected infants that may require surgery
  • Increased risk of behavior or learning disabilities
  • Increased risk of infertility in your children during their adulthood
  • Multiple births.
  • Premature delivery and low birth weight.
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
  • Egg-retrieval procedure
  • complications. 
  • Ectopic pregnancy. 
  • Birth defects. 
  • Cancer.
  • Stress.

Are there differences in embryo quality or pregnancy rates between ICSI and IVF embryos?

There appears to be no difference in the overall embryo quality achieved with ICSI embryos when compared to IVF embryos. Similarly, no difference in pregnancy rates has been shown between ICSI embryos and IVF embryos. Although unproven, there is a belief among many infertility specialists that ICSI may increase embryo yield from a given number of eggs recovered, which has put up to the increase in ICSI procedures.

IVF/ ICSI

Undergoing IVF with ICSI has a much higher success rate when compared to regular IVF. ICSI usually fertilizes 50-80% of the eggs (oocytes) it is performed on. However, it is important to remember that no procedure can guarantee a 100% success rate even the couple has the chance of implantation. Even when the sperm is directly injected into the egg, it may not fertilize the egg(oocyte).

Once the egg is fertilized, it must then attach itself to the uterine lining (endometrium) and develop into a fetus. At this stage, the success rate of IVF with and without ICSI is the equal. Thus, the success rate of ICSI is not the equal as the number of live births after an IVF cycle. IVF and ICSI has same success rate ICSI is done more frequently as ICSI helps to bring success rate in male factor. Comparing ICSI and IVF is like to compare an apple with another apple.

What is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)?

IVF treatment is an option for  couples struggling with infertility.  ICSI is an advanced fertility treatment for male infertility. This gives best success in the  hands of expert IVF doctors and embryologists. 

In human being formation of an embryo from a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm is a very complex phenomenon. The sperm of a man is a moving cell inside the body . It must reach to the egg at appropriate time to fertilise.  The released egg from ovary can survive for only 24 hours. You may face difficulty in conceiving if

  1. Sperm quantity is too low – oligospermia
  2. Your partner doesn’t produce sperms – Azoospermia
  3. Defects in sperm movement – Asthenospermia
  4. Sperm cannot penetrate the egg due to a thick covering – thick zona

The head of the sperm must attach to the covering (zona) of the egg so that it can fertilise a woman’s egg, After attachment the sperm penetrates through the outer layer to the inside of the egg . Fertilisation takes place in the cytoplasm of the egg.

Sometimes the sperm cannot penetrate the outer layer, for a variety of reasons. The egg’s outer layer may be thick or hard to penetrate or the sperm may be unable to swim. You will need ICSI in these cases to fertilise the egg inside the laboratory. During ICSI, a single sperm will be injected directly into the cytoplasm the egg.

How ICSI is different from IVF Treatment?

IVF  and ICSI are two ways to fertilise an egg in the laboratory. 50,000 or more swimming sperm will be placed next to the egg in a laboratory dish in traditional IVF treatment. Fertilisation occurs spontaneously when one of the sperm enters into the cytoplasm of the egg. In the ICSI process, a tiny needle, called a micropipette, injects a single sperm into the center of the egg. Fertilisation achieved through ICSI can be up to 80-90% whereas through IVF treatment it is around 50 -60 %. The fertilised egg (now called an embryo) grows in a laboratory for 2 to 5 days. Your IVF specialist may advise for ICSI over IVF treatment if your partner has male infertility.

When do you need ICSI treatment?

ICSI helps to overcome fertility problems, such as:

  • If your male partner produces too few sperm to do artificial insemination (intrauterine insemination [IUI]) or IVF treatment.
  • The sperm may not move in a normal fashion, hence cannot reach up to the egg in time.
  • The sperm may have trouble attaching to the egg , Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection overcomes this.
  • Your partner may have azoospermia ( Nil Sperms) due to a blockage in the male reproductive tract. Your IVF specialist will directly obtain sperms from Testes through a minor procedure like PESA or TESE. ICSI treatment is helpful if your partner has obstructive azoospermia.
  • At times, traditional IVF treatment fails to create embryos in some patients. ICSI can achieve fertilisation in such patients regardless of the condition of the sperm.
  • IVM treatment (In vitro maturation of eggs)
  • Frozen self or donor eggs

Does ICSI work for all?

ICSI fertilises up to 80% of eggs. But certain issues may occur during or after the ICSI process:

  • Damage to the eggs – Hence it is advisable to take help of an expert embryology department.
  • Fertilisation Failure- This can happen due to any inherent problem in any one of the couple.
  • The embryo may stop growing after fertilisation due to several reasons.

Once fertilisation takes place, a couple’s chance of achieving pregnancy is same for IVF treatment in Chennai and ICSI. Chances of Pregnancy in humans is up to 30-40 % even with very good embryos. This is due to the low implantation capacity of human uterus.

ICSI treatment
ICSI treatment

Can ICSI Treatment affect a baby’s development?

If a woman gets pregnant naturally, there is a 1.5% to 3% chance that the baby will have a major birth defect. The chance of birth defects associated with ICSI is similar to IVF treatment in Chennai , but slightly higher than in natural conception.

Some of the problems that cause infertility may be genetic. For example, male children conceived with the use of ICSI may have the same infertility issues as their fathers. Couple should go through a counselling process at a standard ICSI center with the help of Infertility specialists and embryologists.

Infertility appears to be a shadow in the lives of those who cherish parenthood. IVF treatment in Chennai is a special technique to achieve pregnancy in those couples who cannot give birth naturally. IVF treatment is one of the most popular techniques in India for achieving pregnancy through Assisted Reproductive Technique. Egg donor IVF is a fertility treatment option for those who can’t use their own eggs due to various reasons.

The egg donation process involves retrieving eggs from a woman who has normally functioning ovaries. After egg retrieval, the eggs are fertilised in the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) lab using sperm from the receiving couple’s partner, or in certain situations with donor sperm. At Femelife Fertility, IVF treatment in Chennai is done by gynaecologists, embryologists and fertility counsellors offer you complete fertility solution for infertility. The team at Femelife includes highly experienced consists of infertility specialist Dr. Nabaneeta Padhy with 20 years of experience. The personalised care give at Femelife is passionate and motivating. Hitech laboratory and customised protocols have achieved high success  at Femelife Fertility and many couples have realised their dream of parenthood. Services available at Femelife include IVF, ICSI, IMSI, PGD, Donor egg programme, Surrogacy, Blastocyst Culture, Assisted hatching, Embryo Donation, Round the clock Fertility care, Expert Embryology and Andrology.

Is IVF procedure painful?

IVF treatment is a relatively safe and simple procedure. It can be done in an outpatient setting with mild sedation and analgesia. During oocyte retrieval some patients may require anaesthesia for short period. Complications during IVF process are rare and not dangerous. At Femelife Fertility oocyte retrieval (egg collection) is done under sedation and patients don’t experience pain during procedure. Usually, after 3- 4 hrs of the procedure, patients feel comfortable to go home.

What is IVF treatment Centre?

IVF centre refers to the healthcare division dealing with infertile couples. Usually it is a clinical setup where IVF specialists investigate and treat fertility related issues. IVF treatment in Chennai at Femelife comprises of an outpatient department with facilities for various diagnostic tests and a specialised laboratory complex for treatment.

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