For men with severely reduced levels of sperm morphology or with mid-or-high range DNA damaged sperm, there is a risk of higher than usual miscarriage rates and reduced clinical pregnancy rates – even with the standard treatment of ICSI. Other options, such as the surgical collection of sperm (TESA), carry surgical risk and are relatively expensive.
We have developed a methodology that allows the laboratory to enlarge the images of sperm to over 7300x magnification (by comparison, 200-400x is standard in ICSI), using high resolution, high magnification digital enlargement of the sperm.
The scientist then uses defined sperm sizes and shape information to select the most appropriate sperm to be injected into the egg.
This technique offers our patients in this situation a significant increase in fertilisation and pregnancy rates, and a reduction in miscarriage rate.
IVFAustralia was the first clinic in the country to offer this technique, and your Fertility Specialist can advise if it is appropriate for you.
