Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: ICSI

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a procedure similar to IVF, involves direct injection of sperm into the eggs obtained from IVF. A single sperm is injected by an embryologist directly to each egg in this procedure in a laboratory.

How is ICSI performed?
ICSI is done in five steps:

• The mature egg is held with a specialised pipette.
• A sharp and delicate needle is used to immobilise and pick up a single healthy sperm.
• The needle is then carefully injected into the cytoplasm of the egg.
• The needle is carefully removed.
• The eggs are monitored to check fertilisation.

Once ICSI becomes a success, embryo is transferred into the woman’s uterus.

Why is ICSI used?

Mostly used to overcome male infertility problems, especially when sperm count is low, sperm can’t move properly, when sperm has to be retrieved surgically, when there are high levels of antibodies in semen, or in case of previous IVF failure. It can also be depended upon in case eggs are not easily penetrated by the sperm, or in case of teratozoospermia.

How successful is ICSI treatment?

According to the patient’s age, the ICSI procedure is effective in about 25 percent of the cases in the first attempt. Since fertilisation of 50 to 80 percent of eggs are likely to happen, the success rate of ICSI is similar to that of IVF.

For enquiries about ICSI at Dream Flower, call us at  04994 220 170