Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a specialised form of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique. It treats severe cases of infertility by injecting a single spermatozoid inside a woman’s egg with a micropipette.
Let’s check out when a couple can resort to ICSI.
ICSI for Women
ICSI is highly recommended when a woman has one or more of these issues:
- A low number of oocytes produced
- Oocytes with a thick layer
- Immunological sterility with a reduced number of anti-spermatozoid antibodies
- Failure of the classic IVF treatment
ICSI for Men
ICSI is highly recommended when a man has one or more of these issues:
- A low number of spermatozoids
- Flaws in the sperm morphology
- Problems with sperm mobility
- No sperm found in the semen (azoospermia); in this case, the sperm has to be taken directly from the testicle (testicular biopsy)
- Infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis…
- Frozen sperm before undergoing chemo- or radiotherapy
- A problem of ejaculation in regular conditions
The figure below demonstrates the normalities and abnormalities of a spermatozoid:
Have you ever been through this technique? If yes, you can share your experience in the comment section below! If not, would you take the next step to welcome your first or next baby?