Fertilisation methods

In this micromanipulation method, one sperm is transferred into each egg. ICSI is performed on a special machine - a micromanipulator. The success rate of fertilisation is up to 90%.

This method is suitable for couples with poor sperm quality or couples where a low number of eggs have been retrieved from the woman. In some couples (severe spermatogenesis disorder) the use of this method is unavoidable. The principle of the ICSI method, i.e. the selection of both sperm and egg, significantly increases the likelihood of a quality embryo compared to conventional artificial insemination.

PICSI is a modification of the ICSI method, in which only mature sperm are used for fertilization, which are specifically selected by binding to a hyaluronan gel. Hyaluronan is a substance that surrounds the egg and is involved in the egg-sperm bond. Only mature sperm, which have been shown to have a significantly lower incidence of chromosomal abnormalities, exhibit this binding.

During natural fertilisation, the sperm is selected in the body of the female partner and must prove its quality by passing through microscopic obstacles in the fallopian tubes. This natural process can be mimicked in the laboratory by using microfluidic sperm separation. In this method, the spermatozoa in the ejaculate are placed on a special chip and pass spontaneously through microchannels into the fertilisation medium. Using this method, sperm can be extracted from the ejaculate very gently without the burden of additional laboratory procedures required to process the ejaculate. Thanks to selection through microscopic channels, we have a better chance of obtaining quality sperm, especially with intact DNA. The sperm obtained are then used to fertilise the eggs.

MFSS is mainly performed in couples diagnosed with; increased sperm DNA fragmentation, arrested embryo development in previous cycles, repeated miscarriages or embryo transfers without embryo implantation, and in case of older age of the woman.

Sperm destined for controlled demise carry a special mark in their membrane. During MACS processing, metal particles are bound to this mark and then captured by a magnet. This also captures and removes the sperm destined for extinction. Thanks to the MACS method, we have a better chance of obtaining high-quality sperm, especially with intact DNA. The sperm obtained are then used to fertilise the eggs.

This method is suitable for couples diagnosed with increased sperm DNA fragmentation, with arrested embryo development in previous cycles, with repeated miscarriages or embryo transfers without embryo implantation, and in the case of older women.

In the case of repeatedly confirmed azoospermia (absence of any sperm in the ejaculate), in some cases it is possible to extract sperm surgically using the TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction) technique, in which a small piece of tissue is surgically removed from the testicle. The material is then processed and, if sperm is recovered, it can be used for the ICSI method of fertilisation.