PICSI IVF

What is PICSI?

To determine the efficacy of the physiological ICSI technique (PICSI) vs. conventional ICSI in the prognosis of couples with male factor, with respect to the following outcome measures: live births, clinical pregnancy, implantation, embryo quality, fertilization and miscarriage rates. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a laboratory procedure developed to help infertile couples undergoing in‐ vitro fertilization (IVF) due to severe male factor infertility.  ICSI involves the insertion of a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg (oocyte) using a microinjection pipette (glass needle).  ICSI has been available for more than fifteen years and achieves a high overall fertilization rate.

There is now an alternative to the standard ICSI procedure called the PICSI procedure.  This alternative to the standard ICSI was developed to help in the selection of sperm by the laboratory staff.  The PICSI procedure does this by using a tissue media that is commonly used in the in‐vitro fertilization lab today and it is also a major component that surrounds the cells of the egg.

Indications for PICSI/ICSI

• Very low numbers of motile sperm with normal appearance.
• Problems with sperm binding to and penetrating the egg.
• Prior or repeated fertilization failure with standard IVF culture and fertilization methods.
• Frozen sperm collected prior to cancer treatment that may be limited in number and quality.
• Absence of sperm secondary to blockage or abnormality of the ejaculatory ducts that allow sperm to move from the testes.  In this situation, sperm are obtained from the epididymis by a procedure called microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA).
• Absence of sperm in the ejaculate, but presence of sperm in the testes.  Sperm can be obtained by testicular biopsy.

Good candidate for PICSI

PICSI is highly recommended in these particular cases:

• Previous failure or low fertilisation even after ICSI.
• Low embryo quality or their failure to develop (not related to poor egg quality).
• Repeated miscarriages.

Is PICSI better than ICSI?

The procedure is very simple for the lab and the major difference between what the ordinary ICSI procedure and the PICSI procedure is the actual dish with the hyaluronan. Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) did not significantly improve live birth rates compared with standard intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and there was no difference between groups in either clinical pregnancy or premature birth, according to findings from a hyaluronic acid-binding sperm.

What is PICSI in IVF?

PICSI is a technique used to select sperm to use in ICSI treatment. It involves placing sperm with hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural compound in the body. PICSI identifies sperm that can bind to HA and these sperm are selected for use in treatment.

Which is better IUI or IVF?

IUI is often the first treatment suggested to those who want to conceive as it’s less invasive and demanding than IVF. It’s also much more affordable. If you are a woman under 35, most doctors will suggest 3 to 6 cycles of IUI before moving to IVF. With IUI, women under 35 often have a 10 to 15 percent chance of getting pregnant with just one cycle. With an IVF cycle using a woman’s own eggs, the average national success rates range from 45 percent to 50 percent or more for patients under 35 years old.

How is ICSI different from IVF?

Research shows that IVF is just as effective as the ICSI procedure, where sperm is injected directly into an egg, when there is no male infertility factor. The key difference between IVF and ICSI is how the sperm fertilises the egg. In IVF, the egg and sperm (of which there are multiple) are left in a petri dish to fertilise on their own. In ICSI, one sperm is directly injected into the egg.

Read more about: ICSI IVF twins