IMSI: Purpose, Procedure & Results
What is Intra-Cytoplasmic Morphologically-Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI)?
IMSI has a high success rate of IVF overcoming male infertility. This is a preferred mode of treatment for patients suffering with Teratozoospermia (sperm with severely adverse morphology) which leads to failure of impregnation through IVF. This is one of the trusted ways of achieving good quality embryos.
When to opt for IMSI?
IMSI is a preferred course of treatment in following scenarios: –
- Teratozoospermia: Bad shape and size of sperm causes hindrance in development of good quality embryos.
- High DNA fragmentation index in the spermatozoa: Damage to the DNA carried by the sperm.
- When repeated attempts for achieving fertilization through ICSI fail.
- During Sperm Aspiration Technique as a part of Azoospermia treatment, IMSI gives embryos of good quality which improves the treatment results as compared to ICSI.
- In cases of first trimester abortions, IMSI plays an important role in achieving full-term pregnancy.
What is the procedure for Successful IMSI?
This procedure is very similar to ICSI wherein the wife is first injected so that the follicles are well-developed. Oocytes are then extracted from these developed follicles and injected with husband’s spermatozoa. This spermatozoa is selected rather carefully. Spermatozoa is first magnified to 6600x to check for any morphological abnormalities. The single spermatozoa which is in good shape and health is then selected and injected into the oocyte and the resultant embryo is then implanted into the uterus.
IMSI gives the embryo a better chance of surviving and developing to the full-term of pregnancy.
