ICSI

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

• is an assisted reproductive technology (ART)
• to treat sperm-related infertility problems
• to enhance the fertilization phase of in vitro fertilization (IVF)

How does ICSI work?

Ovulation and egg retrieval 

• Stimulation of ovaries to produce multiple eggs (appr. 2 weeks)
• Stimulation of follicles to mature (hCG)
• Collection of mature eggs 34 – 36 hours after hCG treatment

Sperm collection

• Masturbation or removal from a testicle through incision

Sperm injection

• The embryologists uses micromanipulation tools and equipment as well as inverted microscopes.
• A very delicate, sharp and hollow needle is used to immobilize and pick up a single sperm.
• The needle is carefully inserted through the outer shell of the egg and the egg membrane.
• The sperm is injected into the inner part of the egg (cytoplasm) and the needle is removed.
• Then the fertilized egg grows in a laboratory for one to five days.

Embryo transfer

• The fertilized egg is then placed in a woman's uterus.