Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI is part of IVF procedure. After the semen collection, it is prepared, and then single sperm is directly injected into the patient's harvested egg with a delicate needle. The egg will reseal itself after the needle is withdrawn, just as it does in the process of natural fertilisation when the sperm breaks through its outer membrane.

ICSI is sometimes used as treatment method for male infertility. It is useful for men who have very low sperm counts, ICSI ensures that the sperm reaches the egg directly rather than waiting for the sperm to naturally fertilise the egg.

Other reasons include:

• Low sperm count.
• Poor sperm motility.
• Abnormally high amount of morphologically atypical sperm.
• Retrograde ejaculation.
• Irreversible vasectomy.
• Immunological factors (such as a very high white blood cell count in the semen).
• Other conditions that prevent the fertilisation of the egg.