LABORATORY SERVICES: EMBRYOLOGY

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI is a surgical technique during which eggs are first retrieved and placed in a tiny drop in a dish. While viewing the egg and sperm through a microscope, a single sperm is captured in a fine glass needle and injected through the eggshell and into the center of the egg (cytoplasm).

Successful fertilization is evaluated the following day. Three to five days after ICSI, the physician transfers embryos into the woman’s uterus.

Preimplantation Genetic Screening and Diagnosis (PGD)

PGD may enable a couple to conceive a pregnancy with significantly decreased likelihood of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities.

PGD is the analysis of one or two single cell(s) removed from an embryo. The purpose of PGD is to identify and select embryos with the greatest potential for the establishment of a healthy pregnancy.

RSI performs all of the IVF services and embryo biopsy involved in PGD. The genetic testing is performed by collaborating laboratories recognized worldwide as experts in the field of genetic diagnosis.

Assisted Hatching

Hatching is recommended when embryos resulting from IVF or ICSI may have a reduced ability to hatch out of the shell (zona pellucida) and implant into the wall of the uterus.

Assisted Hatching is a microscopic surgical technique performed by an embryologist. While viewing the embryo through a microscope, a small hole is gently made in the embryo shell so it can hatch several days after the physician transfers the embryos into the woman’s uterus.

This procedure is typically performed for female patients less than 38 years and older in women who have embryos with abnormally thickened shells, patients with high basal FSH levels, or more than two cycles with moderate or good quality embryos but no pregnancy.

Embryo Cryopreservation and Storage

Embryos are cryopreserved in order to prevent the waste of embryos and maximize the chances of pregnancy from an IVF attempt, and also to preserve reproductive potential.

Egg retrieval under ultrasound guidance and subsequent fertilization and embryo culture are carried out according to our current procedures.

During a medication-prepared frozen/thawed embryo transfer cycle as a patient, you will follow a treatment schedule using Synarel or Lupron, estrogen (pills, lozenge or patch) and progesterone (lozenge and/or suppository) in order to achieve appropriate endometrium (uterine wall lining) for embryo transfer.

Following embryo transfer, estrogen and progesterone will be administered daily until the 7th to 8th week of pregnancy or until a negative pregnancy test.

If you are ready to schedule an appointment, please complete the online form or contact us at 610-981-6000.