Have you been struggling to conceive even after multiple IVF cycles?
Have you been filled with joy at conceiving, only to be disheartened by miscarriages?
Have you repeatedly failed to have a successful pregnancy and are confused about whether to go through yet another IVF treatment?
If you have been unable to achieve a successful pregnancy, you may want to consider the PICSI technique (Physiological Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) – an innovative addition to an IVF procedure.
Please do not hesitate to consult our IVF specialists at Nisha IVF Centre, often regarded as the best IVF hospital in Ahmedabad.
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method that involves combining the egg with sperm outside of the body (in a culture dish). The procedure entails monitoring and promoting ovulation in a woman, extracting an egg or eggs from the ovaries, and combining them with sperm to fertilize in a culture dish in a lab. Embryo transfer is the process of implanting a fertilized egg (zygote) into the uterus of the same or another woman after it has undergone embryo culture for 2 to 6 days, preferably the blastocyst stage (day 5 to 6).
ICSI is a type of IVF, and PICSI is an additional measure in the IVF-ICSI process.
Let us understand both ICSI and PICSI.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a type of in vitro fertilization (IVF) that involves injecting a single sperm into an egg. ICSI is used when the male partner has a low sperm count or when the sperm are unable to fertilize the egg on their own.
Physiological Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) is a specialized form of IVF-ICSI that uses a special dye to select the most potent sperm for injection into the eggs.
PICSI is indicated for couples who have failed to conceive after multiple rounds of IVF, as well as for couples who have experienced repeated miscarriages.
If you have been struggling in getting pregnant or repeated miscarriages, please speak with Dr. Nisarg Patel, who is frequently called the best IVF doctor in Ahmedabad.
Read on to learn more about PICSI.
What is PICSI?
The PICSI technique, often called physiological ICSI, is a type of sperm selection that takes into account the sperm’s level of maturity. Using this method, spermatozoa can be chosen based on how well they can attach to a manufactured molecule that has qualities comparable to hyaluronic acid.
The head of a mature sperm contains a particular receptor for HA (hyaluronic acid), a crucial component of the cluster containing the oocytes. The sperm that attach to HA are the ones that have completed spermatogenesis and have undergone nuclear maturation, cytoplasmic extrusion, and plasma membrane modification.
What is the PICSI procedure?
The PICSI method is a relatively straightforward procedure. The process is similar to ICSI; the only difference is the male gamete selection.
PICSI is a technique in which sperm are selected based on their ability to penetrate the zona pellucida, the outermost layer of the egg. It is vital for the zona pellucida layer to be penetrated for fertilization to occur. PICSI helps the IVF specialist in choosing the best sperm feasible for fertilization. PICSI is usually performed on the day of egg retrieval, the day the eggs are removed from the ovaries.
Sperm collection involves the usual method, i.e., masturbation after an abstinence period of 3 – 5 days.
Following this, sperm capacitation takes place in the laboratory to distinguish motile sperm from other seminal elements and dead or immobile sperm.
Then sperm are placed on a PICSI plate that has been coated with hyaluronan, a gel that mimics the cumulus oophorus, the layer of cells around the egg that helps it to move through the fallopian tube.
The dish is then placed under a microscope, and the eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and placed in the dish. The embryologist then isolates mature, biochemically competent sperm to be used to penetrate the egg.
Sperm are chosen based on how strongly they adhere to the hyaluronan gel around an egg cell.
The chosen sperm is practically the same as the best one that would work in a natural conception. A sperm cell is better adapted to fertilizing the egg when it is more developed because it is better able to attach to hyaluronic acid.
Who can get benefit from PICSI?
PICSI is strongly advised in the following situations:
Prior failure or poor fertilization, even after ICSI
Low quality of embryos or failure of the embryos to develop
Men with altered sperm morphology
You can visit our state-of-the-art clinic, Nisha IVF Centre in Ahmedabad, to avail the best IVF option and make your dream of parenthood come true.
Advantages of PICSI
The fundamental benefit of the PICSI approach is that, in contrast to ICSI, it enables sperm to be selected in a methodical manner and is not dependent on the embryologist’s opinion. Because the sperm are individually chosen and have a minimal rate of fragmentation, the likelihood of genetic changes is significantly decreased. Additionally, this sperm selection raises the likelihood of conception.
PICSI is a relatively new procedure, and as such, there is limited data on its success rates. However, preliminary studies suggest that PICSI may be more successful than traditional IVF, particularly for couples who have failed to conceive with IVF in the past.
In contrast, a significant number of researches suggest that the PICSI approach lowers the abortion rate. However, because it is a small decrease, the reduction in the abortion rate cannot be linked to the rise in the live birth rate.
If you and your partner are considering ICSI, PICSI, or other female infertility treatment options and IVF options in Ahmedabad, please visit our fertility specialists at Nisha IVF Cente to discuss your options and understand which is the most suitable treatment for you.
FAQ
What is physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI)?
PICSI is a technique used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) in which sperm are selected for injection into an egg based on their ability to bind to hyaluronan, a substance found on the surface of the egg.
What are the benefits of PICSI?
PICSI may improve the chances of pregnancy when used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Additionally, PICSI may help to prevent male infertility by selecting sperm that are more likely to result in a healthy pregnancy.
What is the best way to prepare for PICSI?
It would be best if you spoke with your doctor about the best way to prepare for PICSI. In general, you will need to have a semen sample collected before the procedure. Additionally, daily folic acid supplements and eat a healthy diet in the weeks leading up to the procedure.
What can I expect during the PICSI procedure?
PICSI is typically performed using a microscope and a micropipette. The sperm is placed in a dish with hyaluronan and then injected into the egg. The procedure takes place in an operating room under sterile conditions.
Is PICSI a good option?
PICSI is still in the early stages of research, but preliminary studies suggest that it may be more effective than IVF in certain cases. One study found that PICSI resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than IVF in couples who had failed to conceive with IVF in the past.
PICSI may also be more successful in couples where the male partner has a low sperm count.
FET is one of the most sought-after fertility treatments at our IVF centre in Ahmedabad for its high success rate and low cost. It involves thawing the embryos from the previous IVF cycle and transferring them to the uterus. The women do not have to undergo ovarian stimulation or egg retrieval during this procedure.
ICSI is an advanced version of IVF, wherein the sperm is directly injected into the egg to ensure fertilization. Our fertility specialist recommends it to couples suffering from male infertility or recurrent IVF failure.
IVF is one of our centre’s most popular fertility treatments. It is a boon for people who cannot conceive naturally. In this procedure, the eggs and the sperm are fertilized outside the body in the lab, and the resultant embryo is transferred to the woman’s uterus.
Now it is possible to preserve your sperm and eggs for later use. With the help of cryopreservation, the eggs and sperm are stored at low temperatures to maintain their viability. This advanced technique is a blessing for people who have to delay having children due to medical or other reasons.