• Sperm processing for Assisted Reproductive Technologies:

1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
   
   
2. Intra - Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
   
   
3. Testicular and epydididimal sperm extraction, freezing and/or processing for ICSI
   
   

In fact, quite often, the benefit of hormonal therapy is largely dependent on the severity of the underlying cause of infertility in the male partner. By contrast, surgical options for treatment can be quite effective. Today, procedures such as Vasectomy Reversal and ligation of varicoceles can be quite successful. In many cases, however, the sperm cells need to be retrieved surgically. For example, in most cases of CAVD, Klinefelter’s syndrome, failure of vasectomy reversal, or opting against vasectomy reversal sperm can be retrieved from the testes through a small biopsy procedure, performed under local anesthesia. Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA) is an ambulatory procedure performed by the Urologist in the office very rapidly and with minor discomfort to the man. In the laboratory we can then identify the sperm cells from a small sample of testicular tissue and using ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) an isolated sperm cell is then injected into each egg, giving these couples the opportunity of having children.

Traditionally, laboratory methodology for evaluation of the male has been limited to the complete semen analysis, which determines the total normal motile count; that is the number of sperm with normal shape and proper progressive motility. Recent studies, however, indicate that it is just not a matter of numbers alone, but rather of “quality”.

In a study with a large number of couples undergoing IVF-ICSI, viable pregnancies occurred in very few cases when the proportion of sperm with damaged DNA was larger than 30%. Other follow up studies have in fact pointed out that fertility potential is highly related to DNA damage in the sperm. As a result, and in an effort to further refine the evaluation of the male, the SCSA measures the degree of DNA fragmentation in sperm.

SCSA is performed via flow cytometry and measures in a large number of sperm (5000, as opposed to 200 to 300 in conventional semen analysis), the level of DNA fragmentation with a high level of repeatability.

Assisted Reproduction Laboratory Services

• Conventional In Vitro Fertilization - Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET)
• Assisted Micro-fertilization via   Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection   (ICSI)
• In vitro embryo culture: Day 3 embryo culture and transfer / Day 5, 6 (Blastocyst) culture and transfer
• LASER-Assisted Selective Hatching, Fragment Removal and Embryo Biopsy
• Polar body Biopsy, Day 3 Embryo Biopsy and Blastocyst Biopsy for Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (Embryo Screening) via FISH or PCR
• Embryo Cryopreservation and Storage
• Oocyte Cryopreservation and Storag
• Frozen/Thawed embryo transfer
  

Assisted reproduction technologies have come a long way over the past 3 decades.

LIFE Embryology Laboratories offers the latest advances in the field and continues to make every effort to implement newer technologies for the benefit of our patients…….

A recent example is the birth of the first baby conceived after Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis in South Florida in June 2003 and several others now on the way……

For additional information see Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis.