As women age, fertility naturally declines, making conception more challenging. However, thanks to advancements in reproductive medicine, conceiving is still very much possible. One such breakthrough is Piezo-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Piezo-Icsi), a refined and gentler technique for fertilizing eggs, offering renewed hope to women struggling with age-related fertility issues.
Dr. Kelly Loi, Medical Director and Fertility Consultant at Monash IVF Singapore, explains how Piezo-Icsi differs from traditional methods:
“In conventional ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), a sharp needle is used to inject healthy sperm into the egg by puncturing its outer membrane. While effective, this method can sometimes damage fragile eggs, particularly in older women. Piezo-Icsi, however, uses a blunt needle combined with a micro-vibrating motion, making the process gentler and significantly reducing the risk of harming the egg.”
Dr. Loi emphasizes that this technique has several potential benefits, including improved fertilization rates with fewer damaged eggs. This could be particularly valuable for women aged 38 and older, who may have fragile egg membranes, lower egg counts, or poor fertilization outcomes from previous IVF cycles. By increasing the chances of successful fertilization, Piezo-Icsi may also improve the overall success rates of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for these women.
Monash IVF Singapore, which opened its new 5,000 square foot standalone center in Novena in 2023, began offering Piezo-Icsi to its patients undergoing IVF treatments in September of this year.
A recent study published by Monash IVF in Australia highlighted the effectiveness of Piezo-Icsi. In a trial involving 108 patients who underwent both conventional ICSI and Piezo-Icsi, the fertilization rate was significantly higher with Piezo-Icsi (71.6%) compared to conventional ICSI (65.6%). Additionally, the study found improvements in the quality of the embryos produced through Piezo-Icsi.
IVF involves combining sperm and egg in a laboratory setting, then transferring the resulting fertilized embryo into the woman’s uterus. At Monash IVF Singapore, most patients opt for a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle, which is performed in the new facility.
Dr. Loi explains the difference between fresh and frozen embryo transfers:
“Fresh embryo transfers occur soon after egg collection, while frozen embryo transfers involve freezing the embryos and transferring them at a later time. FET allows patients time to recover from the side effects of hormone injections used during IVF, and it also gives clinicians time to optimize the uterus for embryo implantation.”
These advancements in IVF procedures, including Piezo-Icsi and frozen embryo transfers, are the result of close collaboration between scientists and clinicians. According to Dr. Loi, this collaboration is essential for improving patient outcomes and addressing the increasing number of women experiencing fertility issues.
With societal trends leading to later marriages and delayed family planning, fertility challenges are becoming more common, often coupled with gynaecological issues that require integrated care. Dr. Loi concludes: “Monash IVF is committed to meeting these needs by providing the latest fertility treatments in a supportive, patient-centered environment.”
Through these innovations, Piezo-Icsi offers women facing age-related fertility challenges a promising option to increase their chances of conception and ultimately fulfill their dreams of starting a family.
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