What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection?
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a technique used to enhance fertilization of eggs during the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process for male factor fertility couples. Standard IVF removes eggs from a woman's ovaries and places them in a glass dish along with the partner's sperm. The sperm are allowed to fertilize the eggs on their own. Fertilized eggs are then placed back into the woman's uterus for implantation. ICSI allows for the placement of a single sperm directly into the centre (cytoplasm) of the egg using a microscope and other equipment to hold and move the egg and to hold and inject the sperm. One advantage of this technique is that it needs only a single sperm to fertilize an egg. It is useful in cases of previously low fertilization with standard IVF or where there is a significant male factor. In these situations, ICSI allows for a much higher fertilization as compared to standard IVF.

How is ICSI performed?

		The mature egg is held with a specialized holding pipette.
		A very delicate, sharp and hollow needle is used to immobilize and pick up a single sperm.
		This needle is then carefully inserted through the zona (shell of egg) and into the cytoplasm of the egg.
		The sperm is injected into the cytoplasm and the needle carefully removed.
		The eggs are checked the next morning for evidence of normal fertilization.

ICSI may help the following couples?

		Males with low number of sperms, low morphology and abnormal shaped sperm, or no sperm in ejaculate.
		Males with low motility of sperm.
		Males whose sperm have failed to fertilize eggs in prior IVF attempts.
		Males with normal sperm counts, but with the presence of sperm antibodies.
		Females with abnormal egg shells (zona pellucida), which can prevent sperm from binding to the egg.
		Females whose eggs have failed to fertilize during the first 24 hours after an IVF attempt (rescue ICSI).
		Sperm obtained from testicular biopsy, vas aspiration, etc.
		Limited amounts of available frozen sperm.