ICSI

Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a procedure performed during in vitro fertilization, where you egg is fertilised outside the body by injecting the sperm directly into it. This differs from conventional fertilisation where the sperm and egg are placed together in a dish and the sperm fertilise the egg on their own without assistance. The embryo(s) are then introduced back into the your uterus in the same way as for IVF.

 

ICSI is typically recommended for certain conditions when fertilization may be part of the problem getting pregnant or where genetic testing of the embryos is being performed. Examples of when ICSI might be performed are:

• Men with abnormal semen parameters
• Previous poor fertilisation using conventional IVF
• Advanced Maternal Age
• Previously frozen eggs (either a donor or your own)
• When having pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT)

 

ICSI is performed after your eggs are collected or after frozen eggs are thawed but before an embryo transfer can occur. See our additional pages for information about IVF and egg freezing.

The first ICSI baby was born in 1992 and subsequently millions babies have been born through this technique.