Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a form of in vitro fertilization (IVF) that is used to treat infertility, especially when there is an issue with male infertility. ICSI involves injecting a single live sperm directly into the center of a human egg in a laboratory, which promotes fertilization through the direct injection of a single sperm into a single egg. This is different from traditional IVF, where thousands of sperm are placed next to an egg on a laboratory dish, and fertilization is left up to chance. ICSI is considered absolutely necessary in the case of male factor infertility with an abnormal semen analysis, but it is also used for other reasons, such as previous poor fertilization with IVF, variable sperm counts, and unexplained infertility.

The ICSI procedure involves several steps, including egg stimulation and retrieval, sperm collection, the injection of a single sperm into a single egg, and embryo culture in a sterile embryology laboratory until it reaches the stage of day-5 embryo (Blastocyst) . The success rate of ICSI is high, with a success rate of up to 60-70% if transferring genetically tested embryos. However, ICSI does not guarantee fertilization, and there are still many other factors affecting a successful pregnancy, including the age of the woman and whether she has any fertility difficulties herself.

ICSI is considered safe and highly effective for men with male-factor infertility, such as unhealthy sperm, low sperm count, and women with low egg counts, thick eggshells, or an unhealthy uterus, to have a successful pregnancy outcome. However, ICSI carries slightly more risks than some other fertility treatments, including a risk that eggs may be damaged when they’re cleaned and injected with sperm. Recovery and outlook vary depending on the specifics of the IVF procedure, and patients are encouraged to call their healthcare provider if they experience signs of ectopic pregnancy, infection, or other complications.