ICSI

What is the ICSI?

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an advanced assisted reproductive technique used to treat infertility problems in men and to overcome previous fertility problems. It is a variant of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in which a sperm is injected individually into an egg using a microneedle, with the aim of fertilizing it and achieving a pregnancy.

In which situations is it recommended to use the ICSI technique?

The ICSI technique is recommended for use in a number of situations, some of which include:

  • Infertility problems in men, such as low sperm count or motility, or in cases of azoospermia (absence of sperm in the semen) or oligospermia (low amount of sperm in the semen).
  • Failures in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments or artificial insemination in the past.
  • Couples with genetic problems, such as chromosomal abnormalities or hereditary diseases.
  • Same-sex couples, where donor sperm is used.
  • Cases where a higher fertilization rate is required.
  • Cases of sperm obtained by surgery or testicular biopsy.

The ICSI procedure step by step

  1. Sperm collection: Sperm is collected by ejaculation or by direct removal from the testicles.
  2. Sperm preparation: the sperm undergoes a preparation process to select the most suitable sperm for fertilization.
  3. Selection of the ovules: the mature ovules are selected to be fertilized.
  4. Sperm injection: A single sperm is injected into each egg using a microneedle.
  5. Embryo transfer: resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus to try to achieve a pregnancy