Intracytoplasmic
Sperm Injection
With ICSI, we inject a single sperm directly into the centre of the egg. ICSI can be a good treatment option to help combat male fertility issues.
How does ICSI work?
Since it only takes one single sperm to fertilise the egg, our highly experienced scientists known as Embryologists search and catch the ideal sperm and inject this single sperm directly into the centre of the egg.
Sound simple?
Actually, ICSI is one of the most technically challenging procedures for an embryologist.
At SSfertility IVF, we’re 100% committed to increasing your chances of having a family. So only our most experienced scientists are trained in ICSI.
Who can use ICSI?
Wondering whether ICSI is right for you?
ICSI can be an option for patients who have:
- An abnormally low sperm count or poor motility
- A high percentage of abnormal sperm or few healthy sperm
- Sperm obtained via testicular biopsy or micro TESE
- Previously low fertilisation rates with standard IVF
- Undertaken Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
If you don’t fit one of the above categories, however, you’re probably better off using standard IVF rather than ICSI. There’s growing evidence to suggest that IVF success rates are actually higher when standard insemination techniques are used.
For patients using ICSI, the treatment process is exactly the same as a standard IVF cycle. The only difference? The fertilisation technique the embryologists use in the lab on the day your eggs are collected.
The ICSI process
Introduction
ICSI can be performed with either fresh sperm or thawed frozen sperm. Our expert scientists choose the ideal sperm from the sample. The ideal sperm is not too fat or too thin, with a tail that’s not too long or too short and is referred to as having normal morphology (shape/structure). Being able to identify morphologically normal sperm is a skill that our scientists develop over many years, with constant fine tuning, to select the ideal sperm for every egg. The ideal sperm will have not only the normal morphology but also good motility (movement).
The ICSI process
Step 1 : Sperm selection
It’s a real skill to spot a morphologically normal ‘ideal’ sperm cells - they need to have a certain shape and size in many parts of the sperm cell. These sperm have an oval head and a long tail which they use to help them swim. Men with infertility issues often make fewer such sperm, which is why sperm selection for ICSI is so vitally important.
The ICSI process
Step 2 : Injecting the sperm into the egg
First, our embryologist places the egg in a customised dish under a microscope, moving it using advanced micro-manipulators. Next, they search for the ideal sperm for injection and immobilise this sperm and position it in the injection pipette. Then, they use a holding pipette to secure the mature egg in place. Finally, a thin, sharp glass micropipette - loaded with a single sperm - pushes first through the zona pellucida (the outer egg casing) and then the oolemma (the cell membrane of the egg) to enter the egg’s centre (the cytoplasm). The embryologist deposits the sperm ever so delicately into the centre of the egg.
The ICSI process
Step 3 : Fertilisation
After the ICSI procedure, we place the egg into our specialised culture incubators to assess for fertilisation ~17 hours later the next day, looking for signs or normal fertilisation, 2 pronuclear bodies known as ‘pronuclei’. These pronuclei are the genetic nucleus from the egg and sperm, so we need to see only two pronuclei, one from the egg and one from the sperm. If the egg does not present with 2 pronuclei, then the egg has not fertilised and will not produce an embryo.
Our embryologists will sometime spend hours searching for the perfect sperm for ICSI - especially in patients with a low sperm count or poor motility. We stop at nothing to find the perfect, most vigorous sperm.
Common questions
ICSI can be a good option for men with fertility issues including low sperm count or poor sperm motility. If you don’t have one of the male fertility issues listed above, you’re probably better off using standard IVF rather than ICSI. There’s growing evidence to suggest that IVF success rates are actually higher when standard insemination techniques are used.
ICSI is more invasive and requires more handling than standard IVF insemination techniques. So there’s a small chance (less than 2%) that the egg may be damaged during the procedure. Unfortunately, this could result in a non-viable egg.
Start your
fertility journey
Wherever you are on your journey, one of our supportive nurse enquiry team can help you understand your options and take the next step. These conversations are free and informative.
Book an appointment