IMSI in Shymkent
IMSI
IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection) – The IMSI method is an adjunct procedure in the in vitro fertilization program. This is one of the newest methods for identifying and selecting mature and morphologically correct spermatozoa. For successful fertilization and embryo development, it is necessary to select the most properly constructed spermatozoa, which have no defects. What is the difference between ICSI and IMSI? The IMSI procedure helps to select morphologically correct spermatozoa before further fertilization using ICSI.
The combination of the IMSI procedure and ICSI fertilization significantly increases the chances of a successful outcome of the IVF program for couples with severe morphological infertility.
The entire procedure is called MSOME-IMSI. It was developed in 1999 by Israeli scientists and is currently widely used in clinics around the world.
The difference between ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) and IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection)
IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection) involves the examination and selection of sperm under high optical magnification, sometimes reaching up to 6 thousand times. This level of magnification allows for a detailed observation of all possible defects in spermatozoa. In contrast, during standard ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) fertilization, the optical magnification is around 400 times, making it impossible to study the sperm’s structure in as much detail. The use of IMSI aims to enhance the selection of morphologically normal and healthy sperm for fertilization, potentially improving the chances of successful fertilization and embryo development during in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Scientists have demonstrated that if a woman’s egg is fertilized using ICSI with a defective sperm, the development will progress up to a certain point, after which the embryo may degrade or fail to implant. Hence, the primary goal of the ICSI and IMSI programs is to select sperm without defects that might contribute to abnormal fetal development and miscarriages. Anomalies could arise from defects in the sperm’s head, such as various inclusions and bubbles, which are visible only under the high optical magnification employed in IMSI diagnostics. This meticulous selection process aims to improve the overall quality of sperm chosen for fertilization and, subsequently, enhance the chances of successful embryo development.
Therefore, IVF with IMSI and ICSI fertilization significantly increases the chances of a successful pregnancy and minimizes the risk of non-developing pregnancies and miscarriages.
Indications for IMSI
The IMSI procedure, during which a preliminary selection of spermatozoa is carried out before ICSI, is indicated for patients in the following cases:
- inefficiency of two or more ICSI attempts;
- male factor infertility, high level of teratozoospermia (a large number of pathological forms of sperm).