What is ICSI?

In conventional IVF treatment, specially prepared sperm are added to the petri-dish in which eggs are cultured and allowed to fertilise. ICSI is a specialised laboratory technique used to facilitate fertilisation in male factor infertility. The ICSI technique involves injection of a single sperm into the fluid contents of the egg cell called cytoplasm. A glass pipette (like a needle) which is finer than a human hair is used to pick up a single sperm and inject it into the egg.

Couples undergoing ICSI treatment have exactly the same treatment as in conventional IVF. The laboratory procedure for fertisation is different as described above.

Couples where the male partner has a very low sperm count

• Low sperm motility (movement)
• Anti sperm antibodies
• High number of abnormal sperm
• Couples who previously had a failed fertilisation of eggs in a conventional IVF attempt
• In men where there is no sperm found in ejaculate (azoospermic) but sperm can be collected surgically from testes (TESE/TESA) or epididymis (PESA)

Although results are encouraging, we cannot guarantee fertilisation.

IVF is indicated in the following conditions:

• Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes
• Unexplained infertility
• Low sperm count or reduced sperm activity
• Endometriosis
• Sub-fertility caused by antibody problems