ICSI Success Rate: Ways of Improving the Success Rate of ICSI Treatment

Factors That Influence ICSI Treatment Success Rates

Understanding the success rate of any ICSI treatment is crucial for couples and individuals navigating the effectiveness of advanced fertility treatments. Despite the tailored approach that intracytoplasmic sperm injection offers to fertility challenges, The procedure’s efficacy depends on several factors like maternal age, sperm quality, etc. Let us discuss these factors individually to help you gain valuable insights.

1. Sperm quality

The quality of the sperm is one of the main factors determining the outcome of the ICSI procedure. Sperm quality can encompass various parameters like DNA integrity, motility, and morphology. These are all critical determinants of the success of fertilization.  Thus, using high-quality sperm after the meticulous evaluation is mandatory to optimize ICSI fertility success rates.

2. Egg quality

In the ICSI process, egg quality is of equal significance. The egg quality is superior in younger women. Naturally, the ICSI fertilization success rates are higher in women in their late 20s and early 30s. Age is not the only thing that affects egg quality. Poor egg quality can also be linked to fertility issues, diet, and overall health. The good news is that medical interventions can enhance egg quality.

3. Maternal age

A pivotal factor that can directly impact the ICSI success rate by age is maternal age. Research has revealed that as women age, the success rates for ICSI and other ARTs keeps decreasing. As mentioned already, people under 30 have a higher success rate than 35+ women. Knowing these age-related limitations is essential.

4. Fertility issues

Besides sperm quality, egg quality, and age, underlying fertility complications profoundly influence the ICSI success rate. Some such issues are polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, severe male infertility, and unexplained infertility. In such cases, doctors first address the underlying issues and then begin in vitro fertilization or ICSI treatment.

5. Uterine environment

Did you know that the uterine lining’s receptivity can stand in the way of embryo implantation? From hormone levels to endometrial thickness – everything should be favorable to facilitate implantation.

6. Ovarian reserve

The ovarian reserve comprises the quality as well as quantity of a person’s eggs and this too will play a big role in your ICSI success rate. If the ovarian reserve of a woman is gradually diminishing, it is bound to lower the success rate. There are multiple tests to assess the ovarian reserve before the commencement of the ICSI procedure. Then treatment strategies can be tailored accordingly for ovarian stimulation.

7. Lifestyle factors

Smoking, diet, body weight, and alcohol consumption can be the reason behind ICSI failure. So, the moment you plan your pregnancy, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle to naturally improve outcomes. This will also ensure that you have a blissful pregnancy and a smooth delivery.

8. Fertility Clinic

You should take your time to shortlist the top fertility clinics in your neighborhood. A well-known fertility center will have experienced doctors and advanced technologies. These vastly contribute to a high success rate.

ICSI Success Rate

The fertilization rate through ICSI is around 80-85%. However, this is when the woman’s age is less than 30 and the man does not have poor sperm quality. When the woman’s age is 40 years or more, the success rate is only 20%.

How to Improve ICSI Success Rates

Here are some tips to boost the chances of success in your first ICSI cycle:

1. Eat nutritious foods that are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Eggs, salmon, milk, leafy veggies, fresh fruits, lentils, kidney beans, berries, seeds, brown rice, and avocados are some foods that nourish the uterus and eggs and thus, accelerate ovulation.
2. Keep obesity at bay by exercising daily for at least 30 minutes.
3. Limit the consumption of caffeine and stay away from alcohol and cigarettes.
4. Sleep soundly for 7-8 hours at night and manage stress.
5. Take vitamin D and folic acid supplements after consulting your fertility specialist.
6. Minimize your and your partner’s exposure to heavy metals and chemicals.

Conclusion

In the end, remember that a comprehensive understanding is essential for you and your partner before you embark on your icsi fertility treatment procedure. This way, you will not just be making informed decisions but also be participating actively in the entire process. A personalized approach and the guidance of an accomplished fertility specialist will maximize the chances of success and help you achieve parenthood safely and with confidence.

References:

Factors Influencing Success Rate of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection with Azoospermic Male Patients – PMC (nih.gov)

FAQ: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection | UCSF Health

Investigating the Factors Affecting the ICSI (microinjection) Success in Infertile People Referred to an Infertility Treatment Center in Western Iran from 2011 to 2017 (jogcr.com)

Dr Ritu Agarwal

Dr. Ritu Agarwal is an appreciated IVF expert in Jaipur for IVF therapy, owing to her more than ten years of experience in this field. She is the top IVF specialist in Jaipur who makes every attempt to provide correct counseling and emotional support to patients in order to help them find the ideal solution for becoming parents.