Hello All:

We have recently been told about improbability of getting pregnant due to severe male factor adn it looks like our best alternative would be IVF adn ICSI but I have read all kinds of reports on this new method. Has anyone become a successful ICSI parent? I would like to hear the experiences from patients in addition to those of doctors who obviously may face a conflict of interest when recom ICSI. I just want to get as much info as possible to make a decision.

Thanks in advance

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SMD

I am going through IVF right now. My egg retrieval will be this Tuesday. We are doing ICSI. What kinds of things have you heard about this procedure?

Dear shopgirl:

I have read that the procedure is still considered experimental by many scientists adn that the micromanipulation involved adds greter levels of risk to the health of the future baby. However, I know that there must be more positive results from ICSI than failure. Otherwise no clinic would do it(by failure I mean both, cases in which the procedure has resulted in no pregnancy at all and cases in which the procedure has worked as far as resulting in pregnancy but in pregnancies with abnormalities in the fetus)

It is important that your physician tells you the complete story about the risks associated with ICSI b/c of its newness. Remember: Drs hypocratic oath requires that they put the patient first at all times however, one must remember that they make a lot of money doing these procedures so they have a conflict between these two interests which could make some hesitant to disclose all the pros and cons in order to keep the patients from changing their minds.

I do not mean to scare you but you should ask for all the facts in order to be sure that your decision was made after weighing all the advantages and disadvantages.

Regards
SMD

Thanks for the advice! I'll let you know what happens.

We are about to start ICSI treatment. My doctor has told me (after many questions from me) that the risk to the child is only the possibility of a cleft palate and or hare lip. Other than that the risks are the same as with IVF procedure.
Good luck making your desision. I found that that was the hardest bit of the whole process.

We are about to start ICSI treatment. My doctor has told me (after many questions from me) that the risk to the child is only the possibility of a cleft palate and or hare lip. Other than that the risks are the same as with IVF procedure.
Good luck making your desision. I found that that was the hardest bit of the whole process.

My husband and I just went through our first ivf cycle and it was a succesful one. We had to to ICSI and neither the doctors nor my OBGYN doc (who is my sister in law) said anything bad about it. In the paper work that was given to us it said that ICSI was first performed in 1992 and that some studies report that the incidence of a congenital malformation called hypospadias (urethra opening on underside of penis) is increased. But I think you should not worry because even if we could conceived naturally, we always have low chances of something going wrong. Best of luck to you!

Hi there,

We have also been diagnosed with severe male factor. We've been told there is very little chance of us ever conceiving naturally. Following loads of infertility tests (hormone tests, cycle monitoring, x-rays, ultrasounds, camera put inside me!), the doctors can' spot anything "wrong" with me.

My husband doesn't want adoption or sperm donation, so IVF is our only chance of having children. I don't want to have children with anyone else, but I do worry about 10 years hence, when I'll be 41 and childless - will I be bitter? Will our marriage still be strong?

Anyway, sorry for diverging! We will almost definitely be doing IVF with ICSI. We weren't told of any risks, other than the normal risks with IVF.

Shopgirl,

Good luck with the egg retrival on Tuesday! Hope everything goes well. Nice to hear from you again http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif