Understanding Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Procedure

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technique where a single sperm is directly injected into an egg to facilitate fertilization. It is commonly used in cases of male infertility.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) FAQ

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What is intracytoplasmic sperm injection?

Intracytoplasmic (IN-truh-sahy-tuh-PLAZ-mik) refers to the fact that the sperm injection takes place inside an egg’s cytoplasm. This is the gel-like substance in the center of an egg, made up of water, salt and other molecules.

What is the difference between ICSI & IVF?

Pronounced ick-see IVF, ICSI stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. During regular IVF, many sperm are placed together with an egg, in hopes that one of the sperm will enter and fertilize the egg on its own. With ICSI-IVF, the embryologist takes a single sperm and injects it directly into an egg.

What is the difference between a sperm injection and ICSI?

The only difference is that instead of mixing the sperm with the eggs and leaving them to fertilise, a skilled embryologist (embryo specialist) will inject a single sperm into the egg. This maximises the chance of fertilisation taking place as it bypasses any potential problems the sperm will have in getting inside the egg. How safe is ICSI?

How does ICSI help with male infertility?

ICSI has revolutionised the treatment of male infertility, offering assistance to couples who previously were unable to have a baby whose father was the genetic parent. With ICSI, very few sperm are required and the ability of the sperm to penetrate the egg is no longer important as this penetration is bypassed by the injection technique.

What is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)?

In these cases, a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be done along with in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help fertilize the egg. During ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm the egg. How does ICSI work? There are two ways that an egg may be fertilized by IVF: traditional and ICSI.

Can ICSI help if I have problems with sperm?

ICSI can help if your fertility struggles are linked to problems with sperm. It is very similar to IVF, but instead of mixing sperm and the egg to fertilise, an embryologist will select one sperm and inject it directly into the egg prior to implantation. We may decide to use ICSI if we believe sperm is unlikely to fertilise the egg naturally.

Does intracytoplasmic sperm injection help with infertility?

For people experiencing infertility, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may lead to a successful pregnancy. This type of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is most helpful when there are male infertility issues. Your healthcare provider injects sperm into an egg to aid conception. Pregnancy may happen after an embryo transfer.