Vitrification is a method for cryopreserving eggs and embryos. It involves an ultra-rapid cooling process leading to a glass-like solidification without crystallisation. Before freezing, the embryos/eggs are exposed to a cryoprotectant that draws water out of their cells to avoid intracellular crystals.
Three factors affect the stability and durability of the vitrification process: cooling and warming rates, the composition of the cryoprotectant solution, and the volume of the cryoprotectant solution. Osmotic pressure and cell toxicity created by the high concentration of the solution are among the main risks associated with this process.
To limit this, you need to reduce the exposure time of the eggs/embryos in the cryoprotectant solution. You may also increase the cooling rate by decreasing the sample volume. These results are achieved by specially designed storage devices that allow rapid cooling and reduce the amount of solution surrounding the embryos and eggs. However, you can maintain the durability and stability of embryos and gametes in vitrification.
Advancements in fertility treatment
An innovative method of vitrification implemented by the best IVF centre in Lucknow is using sealed pulled straws, which reduces the risk of contamination during the vitrification process and maintains a high cooling rate in liquid nitrogen slush. Vitrification is a vastly improved method used to freeze eggs and embryos.
Therefore, eggs may form ice crystals, but vitrification minimises this risk. The thawing process for vitrified eggs/embryos is like that used for slow-frozen ones. The chances of retaining good-condition eggs after being thawed are much better than with other techniques.
You may also rely on other procedures, such as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI treatment, where a sperm is injected into a woman’s egg with a needle in a clinic or a lab.
How do doctors perform ICSI treatment?
When IVF is used with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, it allows otherwise sterile couples to become parents. The ICSI treatment follows the following steps:
- Ovarian stimulation
Like regular IVF, the woman first needs to take fertility medication to stimulate egg production in the ovaries. The doctor will simultaneously monitor the development of the eggs. The ICSI process is performed when the egg is ready to be retrieved. Medications stimulate the ovaries for about eight to 14 days to produce many mature eggs, therefore increasing the chances of success.
- Sperm and egg retrieval
During this stage, a doctor at the fertility clinic in Lucknow performs the procedure to collect eggs from the ovaries. They combine them with the collected sperm for fertilisation. The male needs to produce a sperm sample by ejaculating into a cup, or it may be surgically retrieved.
There are several ways to retrieve sperm. In some cases, it may be performed earlier and kept frozen.
Multiple eggs may be harvested from the woman’s ovaries using a fine needle guided by an ultrasound probe. This procedure is not painful but may cause slight soreness and bruising.
- Fertilisation
Once retrieved, the semen sample is washed before isolating a sperm. The doctor then injects each mature egg with the sperm using a fine hollow needle under a microscope. Since they inject it directly, sperm bypasses the need to swim through the cervical fluid. It can take up to 24 hours for the sperm to fertilise an egg.
- Embryo development
The fertilised embryos are stored in a lab for three to six days. During this time, they are monitored for signs of growth and development. This step is essential to selecting the healthiest and most viable embryos for transfer into the woman’s uterus.
- Embryo transfer
Once the embryo has reached a certain stage of development, one or two are selected and transferred to the woman’s womb via an ultrasound-guided catheter. This may happen two or five days after fertilisation. The embryo transfer is simple and lasts about five minutes.
- Pregnancy tests
You need to undergo a test two weeks after the embryo transfer to check if you are pregnant. If your previous IVF attempts did not result in successful fertilisation, ICSI can be an effective alternative. By directly injecting sperm into the egg, this fertility treatment overcomes certain barriers encountered in standard IVF and provides you with a better chance of achieving pregnancy.
Conclusion
Mastering the ICSI technique requires precision, practice, and attention to detail. By following these detailed steps, embryologists can enhance their skills and contribute to higher fertilisation rates and successful IVF outcomes. Whether you are new to the procedure or looking to refine your technique, you get a solid foundation for performing ICSI with confidence and accuracy.
