Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

What is it?

ICSI is a type of assisted microsurgical fertilisation that involves the injection of a single sperm directly into an egg. Over the last few years, various methods of assisted microsurgical fertilisation have been developed.

When is it appropriate?

ICSI is used when the male partner exhibits poor sperm motility and/or low sperm count.

Requirements:

The production of more than 4 oocytes.

1. Hormone treatment (superovulation) to ensure the development of several oocytes.
2. Monitoring of follicular growth.
3. Induction of ovulation.
4. Transvaginal (conscious sedation) aspiration of oocytes.
5. The sperm sample is prepared approximately 2 hours after the aspiration of the oocytes.The sample can be an ejaculated sample or a sample from a testicular biopsy.
6. A single sperm is injected into each oocyte (ICSI).
7. Embryo development (2-3 days)
8. Transvaginal (no anaesthetic; up to 3 embryos; into the uterus) or a laparoscopic (general anaesthetic; up to 3 embryos; into the Fallopian tube) transfer of embryos.
9. Pregnancy test (day 10, after transfer)

Number of visits to clinic: 7-10 per cycle

Success rate:

ICSI has the same results as IVF, namely 30-40% per treatment cycle (general figure for all patients). In patients with exceptional embryos and those younger than 35 years of age the pregnancy rate can be as high as 60% per cycle. See benchmark results for more information.