Other IVF Techniques

Blastocyst Transfer

Blastocysts are more advanced and complex five-day-old embryos. With blastocyst transfer, instead of implanting standard two- or three-day-old embryos into the uterus, the procedure implants blastocysts; fewer blastocysts are implanted, which reduces the risk of multiple pregnancy.

 

ICSI - In Vitro Fertilization with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

ICSI is one of a highly sophisticated group of micromanipulation techniques. With ICSI, the physician injects a single sperm into an egg using microscopic instruments--in the laboratory setting. This technique is used for couples who have failed standard IVF or when the male has severe infertility issues. ICSI has also been proving to be effective in some severe female fertility situations. ICSI pregnancy rates are now equivalent to other assisted reproduction techniques, according to scientific studies.

The ICSI procedure is quite simple. It entails the following:

• The egg is placed in a laboratory dish.
• A tiny glass tube (holding pipet) stabilizes the egg.
• An injection pipet (also a glass tube) is used to penetrate the egg's membrane and insert a single sperm into the egg.
• The egg is released into a drop of culture medium, where nutrients support growth.
• Once fertilized, the egg is allowed to develop for 1 or 2 days, at which time, it is either cryopreserved (frozen) or implanted into the woman's uterus.

 

IMSI - Intracytoplasmic Morphologically-selected Sperm Injection

IMSI is a fertility treatment in which the best quality sperm cells are selected from a sample provided by the male partner, and injected directly into eggs retrieved from the female partner. This technique increases the probability that these sperm will fertilize the eggs.

IMSI differs from ICSI in that during IMSI, the embryologist selects the sperm cells with the best morphological quality to be injected into the eggs using an extremely high-powered microscope.

IMSI is recommended in the following situations:

• The male partners is over 35 years of age
• Male partners who have a high number of abnormally formed sperm (identified through semen analysis)
• Couples who have not achieved good quality embryos in previous IVF cycles (but not due to poor egg quality)
• Partners with previous unsuccessful IVF treatment cycles (but not due to egg-related issues) 
• Women with a history of miscarriage

Assisted reproductive treatments