Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is used when the sperm quality is very poor. This is a highly technical procedure where by a single sperm is injected into the centre of an egg to achieve fertilisation.
What happens in an ICSI cycle?
Stimulation and egg collection in an ICSI cycle are the same as in an IVF cycle. The difference between the two is that in an ICSI cycle, mature eggs are directly injected with sperm instead of being placed together in a dish.
Indications for ICSI Treatment
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Sperm abnormality such as:
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Decreased numbers (Oligozoospermia)
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Reduced movement (Asthenozoospermia)
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High proportion with abnormal appearance (Teratozoospermia)
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No sperm in ejaculate (Azoospermia)
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Ejaculatory disorders (such as retrograde ejaculation)
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Antisperm antibodies
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Fertilisation failure after conventional IVF
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Sometimes in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
In cases where there is no sperm in the ejaculate or where the patient suffers from ejaculatory disorders, sperm may be retrieved surgically (Surgical Sperm Retrieval).
Find out more about the ICSI process|