Male Infertility Treatment
This method of male infertility treatment has been proposed recently. The first publications appeared in 1999,and clinical efficiency was demonstrated in 2004 by the group of scientists from Israel headed by Professor B. Bartoov. The main point of the method is the preliminary selection of morphologically normal sperm before the procedure ICSI, and abbreviation IMSI (intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection) is translated as intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection.
In ordinary ICSI procedure, the sperm is selected under magnification of 200-400 times, which allows a rough estimate of the morphological characteristics of sperm.
The merit of the group of Prof. Bartoov is in the fact that they have demonstrated a relationship between fine sperm morphology and the effectiveness of the treatment. However, for such selection, it is necessary to achieve an increase of 6600 times without disturbing the life of sperm. It was revealed that under such big magnification, almost equal to electron microscopy, it is possible to detect subtle changes in the structure of spermatozoid, and after selection of the most normal spermatozoid, it is possible to achieve in certain groups of patients a high frequency of pregnancy and low frequency of spontaneous abortion.
For whom is the ICSI procedure prescribed?
- For patients with 2 or more unsuccessful attempts of ICSI.
- For patients with male infertility and high level of teratozoospermia, the increasing of the quantity of abnormal sperm forms.
Spermatozoids under magnification in 400 times, preparation for an ordinary procedure ICSI
Selected spermatozoid of a normal morphology in a micropipette. Magnification
Selected spermatozoid of a normal morphology. Magnification x6000
Spermatozoid of a changed morphology. On the head of the spermatozoid are significant vacuoles («pits»).