What is ICSI?

What is ICSI and when is it used?

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a progressive method of in vitro fertilization.

How is fertilization during IVF?

With standard IVF, the egg is placed in the same dish as the sperm, where fertilization occurs naturally. In other words, the sperm, on their own, locate the egg and penetrate through the shell to fertilize it.

The ICSI method is commonly employed in cases of male infertility, where morphologically “correct” spermatozoa are selected from sperm using an electron microscope with a 400x magnification. These selected spermatozoa are then inserted into the egg’s shell using a microneedle for fertilization. In simple terms, ICSI allows embryologists to choose the most active and mobile sperm while eliminating any defective ones.

The presence of a high number of morphologically healthy spermatozoa in semen is one of the important factors for a successful pregnancy.

To date, all leading ART clinics practice the use of IVF together with ICSI to achieve high success rates in achieving pregnancy.

What are the indications for ICSI?

• male infertility that is not amenable to medical treatment;
• in cases of Azoospermia, where there is no sperm present in the ejaculate;
• in cases of Oligospermia, where there are very few spermatozoa in the sperm;
• when the number of suitable spermatozoa is below 5%;
• in cases where pathological changes have occurred in the sperm;
• the presence of defects in spermatozoa observed during a spermogram with morphology;
• after a testicular or testicular appendage biopsy (TESA / PESA);
• fertilization after “defrosting” of spermatozoa or eggs after cryopreservation (freezing);
• in programs involving donor eggs or donor sperm;
• for patients older than 35 years;

REFERENCE! IVF Center “Ecomed” in Almaty – adheres to the expediency of using the ICSI method only in cases of necessity or the patient’s explicit desire.