Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a fertilization procedure used during IVF where a single sperm is microscopically injected into a mature egg. Because only one sperm is needed for each egg, ICSI can be performed in men with very low sperm counts. Once the eggs have fertilized, their subsequent development and chance for implantation is similar to that of conventional IVF embryos.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection factsheetICSI is performed when the man has a very low sperm count, low sperm motility or a high percentage of abnormally shaped sperm (low morphology). ICSI is also performed if there was poor fertilization in a previous standard IVF cycle with normal semen parameters.
The physicians at Arkansas Fertility & Gynecology will discuss with each IVF patient whether or not ICSI should be performed.