ICSI

ICSI was introduced as a clinical level improvement to conventional IVF treatments. It involves carefully selecting only one single sperm of the best quality for injection into an egg to achieve fertilization. This procedure is done using a high precision technique called ‘micromanipulation’. The resulting embryo is then transferred back into the uterus to continue its development as with a normal pregnancy.

When is ICSI required?

ICSI is recommended when there is severe male factor infertility, including low sperm concentration, poor motility, blockages in the male reproductive tract or where there is a desire to get pregnant after having had a vasectomy. It may also be advised when the female had a very low yield of eggs during egg retrieval so as to directly improve the chances of fertilization by clinical intervention. Your IVF London consultant may also recommend this enhanced procedure if a previous IVF treatment has resulted in a low fertilization of eggs.

How does it work?

The woman will be required to undergo ovarian stimulation to prepare her eggs for collection as in a traditional IVF treatment plan. The sperm from the male partner will then be processed, washed and inspected in our laboratory to select only one sperm which will then be carefully injected into a retrieved e.g. the aim is to inject the most normal looking sperm with good progressive movement into each egg. In cases of surgically retrieved sperm, ICSI will be required.

PICSI

Physiological ICSI may also be recommended as a treatment add-on alongside ICSI. This is advised when there are increased level of DNA damage in sperm. It involves the use of special PICSI dishes that have a drop of hyaluronic acid. The sperm are placed with the hyaluronic acid and any sperm that bind to the drop are thought to have better quality DNA. These sperm are then used for the ICSI and injected into the eggs.