Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a laboratory procedure carried out during IVF treatment where an individual sperm is injected directly into an egg. This can help to achieve fertilisation during standard IVF treatment if there is a problem with sperm quality or quantity.
Could ICSI be right for me?
Your fertility specialist might recommend ISCI if you have an especially low sperm count, your sperm are unusually shaped, or they suffer from poor mobility. It might also be a good option if you’ve previously tried, and failed, with IVF.
People should consider ICSI if any of the following applies:
- You have failed to conceive naturally having tried for a year
- Fertility tests have shown you have low sperm count or poor sperm quality
- Your sperm are unable to penetrate or fertilise an egg
- A man is unable to produce or ejaculte sperm, either due to a blockage or after a vasectomy.
When is ICSI recommended?
Before a fertility specialist recommends ICSI, they’ll run some tests to understand the cause of your fertility issues. They make put you forward for ICSI if any of the following comes to light:
- The quantity or quality of your sperm is unsuitable for conventional IVF treatment
- Your sperm has been collected surgically
- You’ve had low or no fertilisation with IVF treatment previously
- The egg(s) you’re using were previously frozen.
Occasionally your consultant may still recommend ICSI with IVF, even if there don’t appear to be any issues with your sperm. ICSI has been shown to help improve success rates for couples that have not been successful with IVF in previous cycles.
What does the ICSI procedure involve?
During the ICSI procedure we inject a single sperm directly into the centre of an egg. After a few days of development and observation in the lab, we then place the embryo in the womb in exactly the same way as with IVF treatment.
The video shows the process of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). The egg is held in place while a single sperm is injected into the cytoplasm of the egg using a fine needle.
What are the success rates with ICSI treatment?
National ICSI success rates range between 50% and 80% of eggs being fertilised. While this doesn’t guarantee conception, it is a slightly higher rate of success compared to IVF because it virtually guarantees that the sperm penetrates the egg. There is no significant difference in pregnancy rates between IVF and ICSI. For more information on the success rates of ICSI treatment, you can see our individual clinic success rates for further information.