ICSI and conception
My husband and I have been trying for our second child for almost three years. He has a very low sperm count with a high abnormality rate (90%). We have been advised to try ICSI but are concerned about abnormalities and multiple births. My husband takes vitamin C every day, does not smoke and drinks only six units of alcohol a week. Ironically, we did not have any problems conceiving our first child.
ICSI stands for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and offers hope to men who otherwise would remain childless and has a success rate of 30% - which in infertility circles, is impressive. It is a technique that was stumbled on when a British infertility doctor accidentally injected sperm into the nucleus of the egg and, thinking he would have damaged it beyond repair, discarded it, only to discover it had in fact been fertilised and a normal embryo was growing.
I know of two successful cases of ICSI - one where the father was already in his 60s and was producing mostly poor quality sperm having had an only partially successful vasectomy reversal. Both fathers produced beautiful, healthy daughters and nobody had twins. In fact, with ICSI, because it is so precise and only a single sperm is being injected into the egg, you are less likely to have a multiple birth.
I have seen this procedure carried out by an embryologist who took the time to select the healthiest-looking and most motile single sperm in a very limited sample so if you do decide to go ahead with this treatment, it makes sense to take steps to improve the quality of your husband’s sperm.
For detailed information on how to do this you should check out our Fertility factsheet, but your first step must be to start your husband on zinc supplements and to persuade him that even six units of alcohol a week is six units too many.
It has been reported that taking high doses of vitamin E (600mg daily for three months) improved the quality of sperm in 20% of men known to have a low sperm count. L-arginine and L-taurine are both crucial to the formation of healthy sperm and your husband can take these in supplement form. (Biocare’s ASC Plus for sperm health contains both and costs £16.95 for 60 capsules. To mail order, call 0121-433 3727).
You could also both take a new supplement I have just discovered. Vita Men and Vita Fem have been formulated specifically to increase a couple’s chances of conception by the former midwife and Chinese medicine specialist, Zita West. It costs £8.50 for 60 capsules, which you can mail order on 0870-1668899 or by visiting www.zitawest.com.