When Is ICSI Recommended? A Guide to Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

ICSI Process Step By Step

The ICSI procedure starts by selecting a viable sperm cell from the sample and injecting it to a healthy egg. This process is more effective as compared to IVF as it does not depend upon the ability of the sperm to reach the egg or penetrate it.

Typically, during the process of external fertilization, the retrieved eggs are placed in a dish along with the sperm sample and allowed to fertilize. The sperm attaches itself to the surface of the egg and enters into it to cause fertilization. However, in some cases, the outer layer or the zona pellucida is too hard for the sperm to penetrate into. In such cases, the treatment of ICSI can come to aid.

When is ICSI Recommended?

ICSI is recommended to patients who have a history of poor failed results of IVF. It is also recommended in the following cases:

• A low sperm count in the male partner
• A high percentage of morphologically abnormal sperms in the sample collected
• Patient has had a vasectomy in the past and hence the sperm is collected from the sperm reservoir
• Ejaculation issues and consequent surgical extraction of sperm
• Male partner with erection and ejaculation difficulties
• A failed vasectomy reversal

Advantages of ICSI

ICSI holds a higher rate of success as compared to IVF. However, fertilization is not guaranteed with the help of ICSI as the natural course of cellular events needs to happen after the sperm is injected into the egg.

• ICSI can be used on couples diagnosed with idiopathic infertility
• It can provide a chance for the couple to conceive a genetic child when all other options have failed.
• Higher fertilization rates