Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, is a procedure developed to help infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to male factor infertility. ICSI is a form of sperm and egg micromanipulation that involves the injection of a single sperm directly into the inside portion of a mature egg. This process increases the likelihood of fertilization when there are abnormalities in the number, quality or function of the sperm.
North Dallas IVF recognizes ICSI as a major advancement in the treatment of male factor infertility. We may recommend ICSI in the following circumstances:
- Very low numbers of motile sperm exist
- Increased percentage of abnormally shaped sperm are present
- Abnormalities prevent the sperm from binding to and/or penetrating the egg
- Antisperm antibodies are thought to be the cause of infertility
- Prior or repeated fertilization failure has occurred with standard IVF
- Frozen sperm are limited in number and quality
- Low number of eggs are available for fertilization
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis or screening (PGD/PGS)
Fertilization typically occurs in 60% to 80 % of injected eggs.
