Anyone had IMSI and ICSI?

[greet]

Hi All,

After a long long long wait and many tests it looks like we're almost at the point of starting treatment using IMSI and ICSI. We're doing it in a clinic in Dusseldorf in Germany.

My question is has anyone gone through IMSI/ICSI procedure? Any tips? Advice?

All comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

G x

Hi there, we're going to go through ICSI fairly shortly for the first time, so have no idea what to expect - so no advice or tips for you, I'm afraid - but if you don't mind I might hang around and see any answers you might get! :-) Good luck to you! BTW, what's IMSI?

No idea what IMSI is, but we had ICSI.
Not any different to IVF, except they inject the sperm into the egg.
Prior to the procedure, we were made aware that there is a very slightly higher chance of baby having a cleft palate than average baby.
HTH and Good luck!

Oooh IMSI is a fancy new thing where the embryologist looks at the sperm under very high magnification. Will be very interested to see how you get on (from the professional POV). Can I ask why you are having IMSI? At a recent conference I attended there was a lot of debate about who it would benefit (not in a negative way, more in a 'should we be offering this more' way.). It is more common in Europe than in the UK as far as I know.
Good luck.

Am also interested in IMSi as from my little research it seems to be better where previous ICSI attempts have failed, as it doesn't aid fertilisation rates but may improve live birth rates. But I know v little about it.

We had ICSI and it is basically the same as IVF, except for what the embryologist does at the end. I found the whole process wasn't as bad lots of people seem to say (I took the view that it was better to be going through IVF/ICSI than be trying, and failing, to conceive naturally). We were lucky enough to get pregnant first time and the result is now nearly 13 months old and sleeping in his room.

The injections are fine, once you're over the psychological hurdle of actually injecting yourself (lots of people have their partners do the injecting if the idea of injecting yourself is too much!). I sniffed suprecur for downregging then was on menopur injections for stimulation - I downregged for a few weeks and then stimmed for about 10 days.

My top tips would be to take it each stage at time - it helped me to focus on just the next step rather than freaking out about the whole process iykwim. Drink lots of water. Remember to take your folic acid. And try to relax - I found acupuncture to be v helpful for this

The assisted conception thread on here is really good - some lovely ladies to hand hold during the nerve wracking bits. The website Fertility Friends is also an absolute goldmine of information and tips.

Good luck - I hope you get a BFP

Thanks for all your kind words and interest! I live in Holland and we're using a clinic in Dusseldorf. I'm not very 'up' on all the terms in English so please forgive the lack of English terminology as I tend to use the Dutch words instead.

We've been recommended to use IMSI alongside ICSI as after 4 miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy and numerous tests we found out that DH's sperm DNA was highly fragmented. (Using the SCSA test. 35% being rated as very high, his was 38%)

They recommended ICSI as a possible solution but our clinic are now offering IMSI in combination with it. Freelancescientist - you're quite right. If I remember rightly with a normal ICSI procedure the sperm is selected through being magnified x400 and with IMSI it's x800. I think the stats show a slightly higher success rate with ICSI and IMSI combination but it is at the early stages of usage so there's not a huge amount of concrete evidence. It is of course quite costly which is probably a factor why it's not on the NHS yet.

Yesterday we had the green light to begin when I next get AF. Am approaching it all with a feeling of excitement and extreme trepidation! I do feel positive - in that we're taking positive steps in TTC, but am desparately trying to avoid thinking about the awful devastation we'll feel if it doesn't work... this time anyway (trying to think positive again!!!)

Flipfantasia - thanks for the tips and websites and fingers crossed we'll have the same luck as you did. I'll be starting on Suprefact nose spray, then menopur and gonalf injections then late in the cycle it will be cetrotide and a capsule (inserted vaginally - oh joy) whose name escapes me.

Thanks again everyone and I'll keep you posted!

It sounds like IMSI/ICSI really presents a good option for you - sorry that you've been though so much but I shall keep my fingers crossed you have a successful cycle!

I remember the pessaries - I think it's the progesterone (cyclogest). If successful you'll be inserting them until 9-12 weeks (depends on your clinic - I had to take them until 9 weeks). I warn you the side effect of them can be constipation so you may need to have the prune juice/fibre at the ready!

I was also thinking about it last night after I'd posted and I really don't remember bad side effects from the cocktails of drugs...although my husband remembers me crying at random stuff on TV and being quite emotional so perhaps there was some hormonal side effects after all! I think a positive attitude is good - it's a rollercoaster but it is a positive and exciting thing to do, especially after what you've been through.

Please do keep us posted. In the meantime, good luck!