Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Treatment Procedure

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a specialised form of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) that is used primarily for the treatment of severe cases of male-factor infertility. ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm directly into a mature egg.

Steps involved in ICSI procedure

Step 1: Hormone stimulation The first step of the treatment is for the woman to take reproductive hormones to stimulate the production of eggs in the ovaries.

Step 2: Egg retrieval When the eggs have developed, they are removed from the woman’s ovaries with a small needle under short GA.

Step 3: Fertilization of eggs in the laboratory Sperm cells from the male partner’s sample or from a donor sperm sample are selected. One single sperm cell is injected into each egg. The procedure is carried out with a fine needle that places the sperm cell inside the cytoplasm of egg.

Step 4: Development of eggs in an incubator The eggs are placed in an incubator and they will develop into embryos in couple of days.

Step 5: Fertilized eggs are transferred to the uterus One or more embryos are then placed in the uterus and a pregnancy will occur.
ICSI is often recommended to Couples who have had poor or no fertilization during a standard IVF, as well as Couples where Male Partner has: a very low sperm count. a high percentage of abnormally shaped sperm. ... a vasectomy reversal that was unsuccessful or resulted in a very low sperm count or very poor quality sperm
Specific Situations Where ICSI Might Be Recommended
One such factor in men which decreases the chances are low sperm count. There are various reasons which can lead to this situation such as the person is overweight, lifestyle factors (drinking and smoking), low sperm count, poor sperm motility or movement, poor sperm quality, spermatozoa that do not have the ability to penetrate an egg or azoospermia.
There are two types of azoospermia:
Obstructive and non-obstructive.

Obstructive azoospermia:

• Previous vasectomy
• Congenital absence of the vas
• Scars from previous infections

Non-obstructive azoospermia :

It occurs when a defective testicle does not produce spermatozoa. In the case of azoospermia, the likelihood of obtaining usable spermatozoa is low and the possibility of using donor sperm can be considered.