Intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI has revolutionized the treatment of male factor infertility. ICSI can be used to treat a variety of male infertility disorders, such as low sperm count oligospermia , low sperm motility asthenospermia , and abnormally-shaped sperm teratospermia. Additional conditions that may require ICSI include: problems with sperm binding to and penetrating the egg, prior or repeated failure with conventional IVF methods, and obstruction of the reproductive tract.
Before the ICSI procedure begins, your partner will take fertility drugs to stimulate the development of several mature eggs. Once the eggs are mature, they will be removed and you will provide a sperm sample. Next, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg oocyte with a tiny glass needle pipette. Two to five days following the ICSI procedure, each of the fertilized eggs will become an embryo.
Extra embryos may be frozen at this time in case this ICSI procedure is not successful. If ICSI succeeds, the embryo will implant into the uterus and continue to grow into a baby.
ICSI can help couples with severe male-factor fertility achieve their dream of having a family. That means that about 35 to 40 percent of couples having trouble conceiving can become pregnant with the use of ICSI. If you are struggling to conceive as the result of male infertility, we can help. Did You Know?
