ICSI vs standard

kflynn81

Does anyone have a strong opinion for ICSI? We have to decide to shell out the 3400 or not up front for it since hubby's SA doesn't qualify him for ICSI coverage. If the sample is poor day of er they will cover and refund the money. But if its not then were out the cash.....my RE tells me to do it but we reaaaaally don't have that kinda money. Thoughts??

PurpleIris30

We didn't have an option (had to do ICSI with PGD), so I didn't have to make the decision.

But if I were in your shoes, I guess I'd pay for it upfront, but hope that it's not needed and that I'd get the money back.  You'd hate to go through everything, not have arranged for it, and then find out you desperately need it at the last minute. So I guess I'm taking the "better safe than sorry" approach?

BeeBee08

Before our ER, we gave them instructions that if we had X amount of eggs retrieved we wanted to do standard IVF on 3 and ICSI the rest.  Glad we made that decision because none of the standard ones fertilized.  I will do ICSI on all of them going forward.  If I were you, I'd find a way to shell out the money.  It's a much bigger waste of money to go through everything and then have nothing fertilize.

Good Luck!!

BzeetyD

We had to do it with all 4 of our cycles.

What is the reasoning that your RE is telling you to do it?

WindyCity33

What percentage of your eggs fertilized during your previous cycles?

 

If it were me? I'd go for it upfront. 

kflynn81

WindyCity33:

What percentage of your eggs fertilized during your previous cycles?

 

If it were me? I'd go for it upfront. 

Not awful but not great either....only 18 fertilized out of 29 mature eggs (49 eggs total retrieved) over the three cycles. All were ICSI'ed and none were frozen.

 

kflynn81

BzeetyD:

We had to do it with all 4 of our cycles.

What is the reasoning that your RE is telling you to do it?

He said that a substantial amount of woman will end up with nothing fertilized with standard fertilization so he highly recommends doing it.

BzeetyD

kflynn81:

BzeetyD:

We had to do it with all 4 of our cycles.

What is the reasoning that your RE is telling you to do it?

He said that a substantial amount of woman will end up with nothing fertilized with standard fertilization so he highly recommends doing it.

Yes, I would do it. If nothing else, you could increase your fert rate and that might lead to having frosties. It's not a guarantee, however. Even with ICSI some eggs don't fert correctly. Does your clinic offer IMSI or PICSI? Those are like ICSI but a bit more intense. 

Has your DH had an SCSA test? 

Julie21613

I would do it.  My first 3 cycles we had great fertilization rates.  4th only 1 out of 8 retrieved.  We decided on my last cycle (successful one) to do ICSI.  I only had 1 retrieved, it fertilized and I'm still pregnant!