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Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI is used for couples when male infertility is the main reason for infertility. A single sperm is injected into an egg retrieved from IVF.

The procedure is very simple:

• A holding pipette made of a tiny glass tube is used to stabilize the egg.
• An injection pipette is used to penetrate the egg's membrane and deposit a single sperm into the egg.
• The egg is then released into a drop of cultured medium.
• If fertilized, the egg is allowed to develop for 1 - 2 days and then it is either frozen or implanted.

Complications: The risk for birth defects is the greatest concern in this procedure. Birth defects amy not be negligible in children born using ICSI procedures, if the father' s infertility was due to genetic issues, this genetic defect may be passed on to male children. There is little evidence that ICSI helps improve pregnancy success for couples who do not have a problem with male factor infertility.

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