Picsi

Hi ladies,
Just wonering if any of you lovely ladies have had any success using PICSI? We have previously used ICSI but used PICSI this cycles, and am just keen to hear of any other ladies fertilization rates, success stories etc!
Thanks
Rach

never heard of it before - just googled and it sounds good

We discussed it with FS but found that it is best used when there is fragmented DNA in sperm which wasn't our issue.
Goodluck I had googled when it wS first mentioned to us and saw some good results!

Hi Rach,

We have just used PICSI after a very dismal 1st ICSI cycle last year. Our problem is male factor and with our original ICSI cycle, we got 8 embies (1 transferred day 4) but none survived due to DNA fragmentation.

This cycle we tried PICSI (with DH also taking vitamin C and E twice a day for the past 9 months, after we read an Italian study showing this helped reduce DNA fragmentation) - and what a different outcome we got! 8 embies - 5 making it to blastocyst with no evidence on fragmentation, 1 transferred and 4 frozen, and now I'm 5 weeks pregnant. We were so shocked at how much better this cycle was that we completely forgot to ask about the PICSI process and whether any of the sperm had bound to the hyaluronan! So we have a scan in early August and I'm going to ask our Dr whether it helped our outcome.

We figured that we were spending so much money on the cycle anyway, an extra $150 for something that was possibly going to help was money well spent. The idea is that more mature sperm (and therefore sperm that has better quality DNA) binds to the substance (hyaluronan) and therefore the lab is able to choose this higher quality sperm to inject, whereas previously they were only choosing sperm based on shape and motility alone. It doesn't always work - the sperm, even good ones, don't always bind but it's worth a shot!

Goodluck with whatever you choose and keep us posted.

Hi Rach

I did read up about PICSI before our last cycle and it sounded great and would have been fantastic for our MFI with high DNA frag, unfortunately isn't something that was offered at our clinic. However, I think I must've read the same study as wannabub as DH started the vitamin C and E as well and while we didn't get any more embies that previous attempts, the quality of what we did have was beautiful, to quote the embryologist at our clinic. We did only get two embryos, both of which were transferred and now we get to meet two very special little girls on Monday who we never ever dreamed could come into fruition for us.

Sure, it may have been coincidence the fact that DH took the extra vitamins this cycle, but after two years of Menevit alone, there was absolutely no improvement in sperm quality for him. We also both took CoQ10 and something worked for us.

Good luck and hoping that your dream comes true as well.

Hi Rach,
We were told before our 2nd cycle that we would have a greater chance falling with PICSI. We had 5 eggs, 2 fertilised and were implanted. But it seems to be unsuccessful. I'm 40 and have had a fibroid treated via uterin embolisation which may be a factor in my "infertility". But my hubby has had sperm that wasn't quite right, so for us it could be a factor on both parts.
Good luck, the cost is about the same as ICSI, so this shouldn't be a factor for you.
Manni