ICSI - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Also included in the in vitro fertilization group is the INTRACITOPLASMATIC INJECTION OF SPERMATOZOI (ICSI). This technique consists of the microinjection of a single spermatozoon per oocyte.
The technique is very similar to in vitro fertilization but, instead of incubating the spermatozoa with the egg, one of them is injected directly into the oocyte.
ICSI is used when previous techniques have not provided the expected results due to immunological problems or due to the deficient quality of the spermatozoa or oocyte. In fact it may happen that the partner's seed is not of sufficient quality to be able to penetrate, thanks to the release of specific enzymes, the barriers that protect the egg, first of all the zona pellucida. In other cases, the number of sperm produced is so low as to make meeting with the mature oocyte just as difficult.
Compared to traditional in vitro fertilization, which respects the natural and spontaneous penetration of a sperm in the egg cell, ICSI is considered by many to be a "biological forcing". Some scholars are concerned above all with the consideration that the inability of sperm to fertilize the embryo could be a defense mechanism developed by mother nature to prevent any birth defects. A danger that, despite being minimized by other researchers, still leaves question marks.
Other assisted procreation techniques
Embryology, genetics and medical sciences applied to the study of fertility are constantly and constantly evolving, to the point that announcements of revolutionary discoveries follow one another at a rapid pace. Those listed above are just some of the traditional techniques available in the fight against sterility. There are other, very similar to the previous ones, but which introduce small variations or combinations to adapt to the specific problems of the couple and guarantee a higher fertilization rate. Among these we recall, without going into detail to avoid confusing the reader with too much abundance:
- TET (in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in tubes),
- ZIFT (in vitro fertilization and transfer of zygotes to tubas),
- the GIUT (intrauterine transfer of gametes),
- the SUZI (microinjection of spermatozoa under the zona pellucida and transfer of the embryos obtained in the tuba or uterus),
- ICI (intracervical insemination),
- IUI (intrauterine insemination),
- IPI (intraperitoneal insemination).
Having reached the end of this long article on sterility, let us conclude by reporting a reflection of the spirit that has always characterized this site. We talked about infertility, about the fears of scholars that making children will be more and more difficult, we then mentioned the moral problems linked to assisted reproduction techniques and the considerable physical, psychological and economic expenditure that these entail for the couple. Why, then, not to tackle the problem from a preventive point of view first? Why not protect the younger generations from the negative consequences of overweight and physical inactivity, including hypofertility? Why not re-evaluate that body, often not accepted, malnourished, a source of physical and psychological problems?
Sport, the happiness of moving, the joy given by food - the good one - and being well with one's body without having to reach meaningless media "perfection" models ... are perhaps not faithful and irreplaceable companions to reach and maintain the health and well-being of body and spirit? These factors are even more important if we consider the human being as an inseparable mind-body unit; and likewise sex and fertility, elements of life, complex phenomena, far from representing a simple physiological need.
