Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a highly specialised form of IVF designed to help fertilisation when sperm are unable to reach or penetrate the egg naturally. This may be due to low sperm count, reduced movement, or other underlying factors.

With conventional IVF, eggs and sperm are placed together in the laboratory to allow fertilisation to occur naturally. With ICSI, a single carefully selected sperm is gently injected directly into the egg, supporting the process of fertilisation.

The remainder of the treatment cycle follows the same steps as IVF.

A Closer Look at ICSI

In our laboratory, eggs and sperm are prepared with great care. Using advanced microscopy, an experienced embryologist selects a single healthy sperm and delicately injects it into the centre of the egg.

The fertilised eggs are then nurtured in a carefully controlled environment, where their development into embryos is closely monitored.

When Might ICSI Be Recommended?

ICSI may be advised in situations such as:

• Low sperm count or reduced sperm motility
• Surgically retrieved sperm
• Previous IVF cycles with low or failed fertilisation
• When eggs had previously been frozen
• Certain cases of unexplained infertility

While a recommendation is often made in advance, our embryology team will always make a final assessment on the day to ensure the most appropriate approach for your treatment.

Success Rates

ICSI is very effective in helping eggs to fertilise. However, achieving a successful pregnancy depends on a range of factors, including age and overall reproductive health.

Overall success rates for ICSI are comparable to those of conventional IVF.

Your ICSI Journey

Every treatment plan is tailored to you, but a typical ICSI cycle includes:

• Ovarian stimulation
  Medication is used to encourage the development of multiple eggs.
• Egg collection
  A short, minimally invasive procedure is performed to collect the eggs.
• Sperm collection
  A sperm sample is provided by a partner or donor on the same day.
• ICSI procedure
  A single sperm is gently injected into each mature egg.
• Embryo development
  Embryos are carefully cultured and closely monitored in the laboratory over several days, typically up to five days, to support their development.
• Embryo transfer
  A selected embryo is placed into the uterus in a simple procedure.
• Pregnancy test
  Around two weeks later, a test confirms whether implantation has occurred.

The ICSI Technique

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a highly specialised laboratory procedure performed by experienced embryologists using advanced micromanipulation equipment.

During the procedure, the embryologist carefully selects a single healthy-looking sperm based on its shape and movement. The sperm is immobilised by gently touching or breaking the tail, which stops it moving and prepares it for injection. The sperm is then drawn into an extremely fine glass needle.

The mature egg is held securely in place using a holding pipette while the embryologist carefully injects the single sperm directly into the centre of the egg. This process bypasses many of the natural barriers to fertilisation and can be particularly effective when sperm numbers, movement, or quality are reduced.

Following injection, the eggs are placed in carefully controlled incubators and checked the following day to confirm fertilisation has occurred.

Additional Sperm Selection Options: PICSI & Zymot

In some cases, additional sperm selection techniques may be recommended alongside ICSI to help identify sperm with the best potential for fertilisation and embryo development.

PICSI (Physiological ICSI) uses a specialised dish containing hyaluronan, a substance naturally found around the egg. Mature sperm that are able to bind to the hyaluronan are selected for injection, as these sperm are thought to have better maturity and DNA integrity.

Zymot Sperm Separation is a sperm preparation method that uses a gentle microfluidic device to help select highly motile sperm with lower levels of DNA fragmentation. Unlike traditional sperm preparation techniques, Zymot avoids centrifugation, which may reduce oxidative stress on sperm cells.

These additional techniques may be particularly helpful in cases of male factor infertility, previous poor fertilisation, recurrent IVF failure, recurrent miscarriage, or elevated sperm DNA fragmentation. Your consultant or embryologist will advise whether either option may be beneficial for your treatment.

Costs and Next Steps

ICSI is provided as an additional laboratory procedure within an IVF treatment cycle. For detailed information about fees, we recommend visiting our pricing page or arranging a consultation to discuss your personalised treatment plan.

We understand that starting fertility treatment is a significant decision—both emotionally and financially—and our team is here to guide you through every step with clarity and care.