ICSI Procedure – Modern Fertilization Treatment

ICSI or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection is a very delicate and difficult IVF procedure.

The initial stages of ICSI are very much similar to IVF.

ICSI is an effective method to get fertilization of the eggs in IVF lab after they have been retrieved from your partner.

ICSI along with IVF includes the use of specific micro-manipulation tools and ICSI needle to collect the sperm.

Then carefully, the needle is inserted through the outer shell of the egg and then sperm is injected into the inner part of the egg. Usually, this procedure leads to normal fertilization in about 70-80% of the couple who seek ICSI procedure.

Woman who want to seek ICSI procedure are first prescribed with medications that stimulate the ovulation and undergo an egg retrieval procedure. These eggs can be used for IVF and ICSI.

Who can seek ICSI procedure?

There are no standard conditions that restrict the use of ICSI procedure. Some doctors prescribe it for severe male factor infertility, while some others prescribe it for all infertility cases.

Usually, IVF with ICSI is prescribed for:

• Couples with infertility who have sperm concentration under 15-20 million per millimeter, sperm mortality below 35% and poorer sperm morphology.


• Couples who have rigorous male factor infertility, who don’t want to seek donor sperm insemination.


• Couples who are currently seeking IVF and have had previous cycle with no fertilization or decreased fertilization.


• Couples who are currently seeking IVF and have very little yield of eggs.

The process of ICSI:

• Any one of the mature eggs is seized by using a holding pippet.


• With the help of a sharp, hallow and delicate needle, a single sperm is immobilized and collected.


• Then the needle is carefully inserted into the egg shell and then into the cytoplasm of your egg.


• After inserting the sperm into the cytoplasm, the needle is removed carefully.


• The next day after this process, your eggs are observed to confirm normal fertilization.

Success rate of ICSI:

Success rate of IVF with ICSI is more than IVF without ICSI. Usually, egg quality and quantity is better in ICSI cases. Also, there are less likely to occur problems with ICSI when compared to the cases with unexplained infertility.

Success rate of ICSI greatly varies depending on the individual needs. Sometimes, IVF with ICSI is recommended for egg factor cases such as low ovarian reserve conditions. That means having low quantity of eggs or low quality eggs.