Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a fertility treatment used to assist with sperm -related infertility issues.  Before a man’s sperm can fertilize a woman’s egg, the head of the sperm must attach to the outside of the egg.  Once attached, the sperm pushes through the outer layer to the inside of the egg (cytoplasm), where fertilization takes place. Sometimes the sperm cannot penetrate the outer layer for a variety of reasons. The egg’s outer layer may be thick or hard to penetrate or the sperm may be unable to swim. 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 of the egg.

How does ICSI work?

Fertilization occurs when one of the sperm enters into the cytoplasm of the egg. In the ICSI process, a tiny needle, called a micropipette, is used to inject a single sperm into the center of the egg. With either conventional IVF or ICSI, once fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg (now called an embryo) grows in a laboratory for 1 to 5 days before it is transferred to the woman’s uterus (womb).

Why would I need ICSI?

ICSI helps to overcome fertility problems, such as:

• The male partner produces too few sperm to do artificial insemination (intrauterine insemination [IUI]) or IVF
• The sperm may not have proper motility
• The sperm may have trouble attaching to the egg
• A blockage in the male reproductive tract may keep sperm from getting out
• Eggs have not fertilized by conventional IVF, regardless of the condition of the sperm
• In vitro matured eggs are being used
• Previously frozen eggs are being used

The success rate of ICSI?

The success rate of this method for each embryo transfer in infertility treatment centers is evaluated based on the conditions of the embryology laboratory and the accuracy of the gynecologists in the treatment process, as well as the state of the sperm and egg and the age of the woman.

ICSI boasts a pregnancy success rate between 30% to 40%. But the following problems may occur during or after the ICSI process:

• Some or all of the eggs may be damaged.
• The egg might not grow into an embryo even after it is injected with sperm.
• The embryo may stop growing.

Once fertilization takes place, a couple’s chance of giving birth to a single baby, twins, or triplets is the same if they have IVF with or without ICSI.