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As of 1992, the option to have children has been made available to prospective fathers for whom it was previously thought impossible in the form of a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Not available in all clinics as of yet, this procedure uses microscopy to inject an individual sperm into an individual egg for re-implantation, much as with in vitro fertilization. This can serve to rectify conditions including low sperm count, vasectomy, or damaged or missing vas deferens. Vasectomies can often be reversed, but depending upon the length of time that has passed since the surgery, the odds of a successful vasovasostomy, as the operation is called, decreases dramatically. ICSI may be cheaper and more reliable than a vasovasostomy, depending upon the circumstances. The vas deferens are the two tubes which connect the testes to the penis, and must be intact for sperm to be present in the semen.
ICSI is performed essentially as follows:
First, the female partner must take a fertility drug, prompting her ovaries to begin development of multiple mature eggs, as opposed to the one that is ordinarily released each month. These eggs will be removed from the ovaries surgically, though the procedure is minimally invasive, requiring only the insertion of a needle through the vaginal wall to the ovary and a possible ultrasound.
Meanwhile, the male partner must supply sperm. This may be done a number of ways, depending upon the particular disorder. If sperm exist in the semen, but are not motile, then a semen sample is all that will likely be required. If there are missing, damaged, or otherwise incapable vas deferens, it is likely that your doctor may have to remove some from your testes with a needle or by performing a biopsy. Though neither sounds very appealing, the procedures are performed under local anesthesia, are not very invasive and patient recovery is quick and relatively painless.
The collected sperm are now injected into the female partner's eggs to produce, after a few days growth, a fertilized embryo, now called a blastocyst. Two to four of these embryos are inserted into the uterus of the female partner via catheter, and then the waiting starts.
If the treatment is successful, one (or more) embryos will take root in the endometrium, or uterine wall of the female partner, and a baby will be carried to term. In case of failure, the procedure can be repeated to the degree that a fertility expert sees fit. A pregnancy test, conducted about fourteen days after the implantation, can generally determine the immediate success of the procedure.
Odds of success are usually placed at about 28%, with about 6% of embryos 'catching' but not being carried to term. Repeat cycles are usually considered beneficial only up to the fourth attempt, at which point pregnancy is unlikely. Cost is typically between $10,000 to $17,000 USD per cycle, and is covered by some insurance companies. If not covered by insurance, most clinics require payment up-front. |
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