Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a laboratory procedure which aims to achieve fertilisation in the eggs of couples struggling with unexplained, or male factor infertility.
ICSI is the process by which an Embryologist assesses the maturity of all eggs retrieved via egg collection and selects a single good quality sperm to inject directly inside each mature egg. This method is recommended to couples who may have reduced sperm parameters, have had failed or poor results with traditional IVF in the past, or those using precious frozen sperm samples.
Both IVF and ICSI are methods used to bring sperm and egg together in the laboratory - the difference lies in how fertilisation occurs.
• IVF - Eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish, allowing fertilisation to happen naturally
• ICSI - A single sperm is selected and injected directly into each mature egg
ICSI requires only one sperm per egg and can help overcome challenges where sperm may struggle to reach or penetrate the egg on their own.
Once the eggs have been assessed for maturity, an Embryologist uses micromanipulation needles to select the sperm with the best motility and appearance, immobilises the sperm and draws it into the microinjection needle. The single sperm is then injected into the mature egg with precision and accuracy using high powered microscopy.
Couples may be recommended ICSI in hopes of overcoming suboptimal sperm parameters which may be contributing to struggles conceiving naturally, or with traditional IVF. In some cases, the egg and sperm simply may not be interacting with each other as expected. For these couples, ICSI may provide a chance at successfully creating their own biological embryos.
ICSI may help overcome the following limiting sperm factors:
• Low motility: limited forward progression of the sperm where they may struggle to reach and interact with the egg
• Low concentration: limited number of sperm where the chance of a sperm fertilising the egg becomes reduced
• Known case of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation
• Surgically retrieved sperm that may have limited quality/concentration
• Semen collected and frozen prior to medical treatment/chemotherapy, where the sperm may have limited quality/concentration
• Presence of antisperm antibodies within the semen (immune system proteins which inhibit sperm function)
After an ICSI insemination, the eggs are placed into our Time-Lapse Incubators for continuous observation. Fertilisation can be confirmed the following day, and the developing embryo is then given 5-6 days to grow before either embryo transfer or freezing. At Oasis, the couple will receive a call from an Embryologist the day after egg collection with their fertilisation results and updates on the embryo development every second day thereafter.
ICSI is a well-established and widely used technique.
• There is a small risk that an egg may not tolerate the injection process
• As with all fertility treatments, fertilisation and pregnancy are not guaranteed
Current evidence shows that babies born from ICSI have similar health outcomes to those conceived through standard IVF or naturally.
Supporting you through treatment
We understand that every fertility journey is unique. Our experienced embryology team performs ICSI with great care and precision, and we’re here to support you with clear information and guidance every step of the way.
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