Injection Health Dictionary

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the most signi?cant therapeutic advance in male INFERTILITY treatment in the past 30 years. The technique is used when in vitro fertilisation (IVF – see under ASSISTED CONCEPTION) is not possible because the man has very few, motile, normal sperm (see SPERMATOZOON), or when previous attempts at IVF have not produced a fertilised EMBRYO. ICSI requires a single sperm which is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an egg previously retrieved from the woman. Once fertilised, the embryo is transferred to her UTERUS. For men with no sperm in the semen, it may be possible to retrieve sperm by needle aspiration of the EPIDIDYMIS under local anaesthetic (see ANAESTHESIA). Other techniques involve microsurgical retrieval from the epididymis or TESTICLE under a general anaesthetic. Potential complications include scrotal pain, bruising, HAEMATOMA formation and infection. ICSI and surgical sperm-retrieval require extensive training and expertise and is currently available in only a few selected

infertility units. Safety concerns relate to a higher-than-expected rate of abnormalities in the SEX CHROMOSOMES after ICSI, and also the potential risk of transmitting paternal genetic defects in the Y chromosome to sons born after ICSI.... intracytoplasmic sperm injection

An intramuscular injection of a drug that gives a slow, steady release of its active chemicals into the bloodstream. Release of the drug is slowed by the inclusion of substances such as oil or wax. The release of the active drug can be made to last for hours, days, or weeks.

A depot injection is useful for patients who may not take their medication correctly.

It also prevents the necessity of giving a series of injections over a short period.

Hormonal contraceptives (see contraception, hormonal methods of), corticosteroid drugs, and antipsychotic drugs may be given by depot injection.

Side effects may arise due to the uneven release of the drug into the bloodstream.... depot injection

An injection is the introduction of a substance into the body using a syringe and an attached needle. Injections may be given under the skin (subcutaneous), via a vein (intravenous), deep into a muscle (intramuscular), or into the ?uid surrounding the spinal cord (intrathecal).... injections

Administration of immunoglobulin preparations

(antibodies) to prevent or treat infectious diseases. Such preparations, also known as immune globulin or gammaglobulin, work by passing on antibodies obtained from the blood of people who have previously been exposed to these diseases. The main use of these injections is to prevent infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, in people exposed to infection who are not already immune or are at special risk (during cancer treatment, for example). They are also given regularly for immunodeficiency disorders. Side effects include rash, fever, and pain and tenderness at the injection site.... immunoglobulin injection

the injection of a bulking agent (e.g. collagen) into the tissues around the urethra, used for the treatment of urodynamic stress *incontinence. Such injections have a low morbidity and are easy to administer, and results are better in women with good bladder-neck support but poor urethral function. The short-term success rates of these procedures are reasonable, but long-term success rates are poor.... periurethral injection