Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, or ICSI, is a specialised fertility technique and is often used as part of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. It is often recommended for couples and men who are affected by male infertility.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, or ICSI, is a specialised fertility technique and is often used as part of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. It is often recommended for couples and men who are affected by male infertility.
If the quality of a man’s sperm is affected, the ICSI procedure is possibly the only way to achieve a successful fertilisation and conception.
We will follow the normal stages of IVF treatment and, once we have collected the eggs, we will perform the ICSI procedure. First, we collect sperm either through an ejaculated sample or testicular biopsy procedure and then select the healthiest sperm. A single sperm is then injected directly into the egg with a microscopic injection needle to enable fertilisation. This differs from conventional IVF, in which the semen is mixed with an egg and left to fertilise naturally.
After that, IVF treatment follows the usual stages; the embryos are developed in the laboratory and then implanted in the uterus.
Am I suitable for ICSI?
Our fertility experts may recommend ICSI as part of your IVF treatment for the following reasons:
ICSI may also be used to fertilise frozen eggs.
Are there any risks to ICSI?
Some men with severe sperm abnormalities may have a genetic basis for this, such as an abnormality of the Y chromosome. If this is the case it could be inherited by male offspring following ICSI.
Miscarriage rates may also be increased following ICSI and there is data to suggest this increases in proportion to the severity of male infertility.
Parental factors are likely to be the contributing factor to any increased risk of abnormality following ICSI and not necessarily the treatment techniques. It must be stressed that not all patients treated with ICSI are in these specifically higher risk categories as this technique is used in a number of different situations.
How effective is ICSI?
ICSI fertilises 50 to 80% of eggs, but once the egg is fertilised and implanted, the success rates of IVF with and without ICSI are the same.
When you are ready and the time is right for you, the next step is to contact us and we will help you arrange a face-to-face, telephone or video-call introduction with one of our consultants.
You can do this by filling in the contact form below or by giving one of our friendly team a call on +44 (0) 203 263 6025.
We really look forward to getting to know you and helping guide those next steps toward your dream family.
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8 Welbeck Way London W1G 9YL
