IMSI

What is IMSI?

Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection is also known as IMSI is another procedure used during the time of IVF. It enables the doctors to differentiate between the structure of the sperm and exclude the suspected variations. Doctors perform this procedure using a high magnification digital imaging microscope during the time of injecting into the egg.

Everything You Need to Know About IMSI

Purpose | Candidate | Procedure | Cost | Recommended for | Risks | Pros and Cons | Success Rate

Why perform IMSI?

ICSI is performed where doctors find severe male infertility. It is performed parallel to IVF for a better result. But sometimes the process fails. To enhance a positive outcome doctors use a digital high magnification sperm to improve the process of fertilization and embryo development. This procedure is used for couples with poor results in IVF with ICSI.

By using the digital high-magnification of sperm doctors can easily differentiate between normal and abnormal sperms. IMSI enables 6000 times magnification of sperms that will help to identify more accurately and exclude them during the process of fertilizing the egg. The structurally normal sperm is further used during the process of fertilization using the ICSI method. This technique helps to microinject most normal-looking sperms.

This technique is very helpful and ensures a better result than the traditional method of selecting sperms for fertilization. The traditional method assesses abnormalities at around 400 times magnification.

Who is IMSI suitable for?

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is for the ones who have repeatedly failed in IVF cycles. Even if a couple failed in the ICSI-IVF cycle in the past they can opt for this advanced technique.

In case of severe male infertility, IMSI can be of great help. It also enables doctors to differentiate between normal and abnormal sperms.

How does IMSI work?

IMSI works most uniquely. In the traditional method, embryologists used to select the most normal looking sperm using a microscope. Those microscopes magnify the sperm up to 400 times. On the other hand, IMSI uses a microscope that magnifies the sperm up to 6000 times which helps embryologists to detect minor structural alteration in sperm enhancing fertilization of the egg.

Steps involved in IMSI procedure:-

• Doctors conduct an initial selection of sperm from the fresh sample collected.
• The selection is performed under a microscope which is 15 times more powerful than a usual microscope.
• The internal morphology of the sperm is examined using a microscope. Doctors exclude the abnormal sperms in this stage immediately after examining.
• After discarding the abnormal sperms doctors select the normal sperms and place them in a catheter.
• These sperms are then placed in the center of the egg.

How is IMSI treatment performed?

IMSI is performed to differentiate between the normal sperms and the abnormal sperms before microinjecting. It is performed using a high powered microscope with 600 times digital imaging. The ultrastructure of the sperm is analyzed through this procedure.

The dermatologist examines the nucleus distortion. Over 1000 morphological characters are analyzed using this procedure. Once the sperm is selected for microinjection the later process is the same as the ICSI cycle.

What does IMSI treatment cost?

The average cost of IMSI in India is Rs.1,50,000 – Rs.2,76,000 in addition to the ICSI treatment. The IMSI treatment is performed at a very low cost in India than in any other country in the world. It is performed using a high digital magnifying lens which is 6000 times. It allows the doctor to select the high quality of sperms without any abnormalities before microinjecting in the eggs.

Who is IMSI-IVF recommended for?

The IMSI treatment is recommended for men with:-

• The high percentage of abnormally shaped sperm.
• Prior history of poor results with previously conducted ICSI – IVF cycle.
• The low number of sperms even in the normal sperm sample.
• Surgically recovered sperm.

The IMSI treatment is recommended for women with:

• Failed IVF cycle.
• History of miscarriage and repeated abortions.
• No implantation in the normal quality of egg.
• The Blastocyte stage is made of few embryos.

Risks associated with IMSI-IVF

IMSI is referred by doctors when the quality of sperm is severely low. It is also referred with a history of 2 failed ICSI and 3 failed IVF cycles. IMSI is still in its preliminary stage. It is a time-consuming process. It adds up to 1.5 to 5 hours in addition to the IVF process. This is quite an expensive process and mostly not available in all IVF laboratories. In comparison to ICSI, it will lead to multiple pregnancies.

Pros and Cons of IMSI

According to reports, the success rate of IMSI is 66% and that of normal sperm injection is 33%. There are some advantages to IMSI:

1. This technique doubles the pregnancy rate lowering the abortion rate by 60%.
2. In this case, normal sperm is selected lowering the chances of miscarriage.
3. It helps to determine fertility hence enhancing fertility and pregnancy rates.

IMSI has a lot of disadvantages, which includes:

1. It is a time taking and expensive process.
2. Leads to multiple pregnancies when compared to ICSI.

The success rate of IMSI

IMSI helped to increase the rate of pregnancy from 30% to 60%. This technique improved the success rate among men with the worst issues. Couples with a history of failed IVF-ICSI cycle benefited by this procedure. Couples with unexplained infertility are also benefited by IMSI.

IMSI is still in its preliminary stage and shall be more helpful to couples with severe infertility issues in the coming days.