In plain words
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, is a variation of . In the lab, an embryologist picks a single sperm and injects it straight into an egg. This skips the usual step of letting sperm reach the egg on their own. It is used most often when sperm count, movement, or shape is a problem, or when earlier IVF attempts did not lead to fertilization. It can also be used with sperm that are surgically retrieved. After injection, the embryo is grown and transferred as in standard IVF. ICSI is common. Its success depends on the egg, the embryo, the age of the person providing the egg, and the cause of the fertility problem. Clinics report their own success rates.
The deeper version
ICSI, first reported by Palermo and colleagues (Lancet, 1992), involves immobilizing a single spermatozoon and injecting it into the oocyte cytoplasm. It is indicated for severe male factor, for azoospermia with retrieved sperm, and after fertilization failure with conventional IVF. In unselected populations, ICSI has not clearly improved live birth rates compared with conventional IVF, and its routine use is debated. Observational data have raised questions about imprinting disorders and congenital anomalies in ICSI-conceived children, with small absolute differences reported. Controversy centers on routine versus selective use, and on long-term child outcomes.
Where it comes up
- Infertility and the long roadLoss and Complications
- Your partner's health before conceptionBefore Pregnancy
- Trying to conceive: how long is normal, when to ask for helpBefore Pregnancy
What mothers here say about intracytoplasmic sperm injection
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Sources
- Palermo G, Joris H, Devroey P, Van Steirteghem AC — Pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection of single spermatozoon into an oocyte. Lancet, 1992