April 8, 2023 | Register
May 13, 2023 | Register
< fertility services

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

With ICSI, men with extremely low sperm counts can have fertilization and IVF success rates which match those of couples doing IVF with no male factor concerns. ICSI is also used in certain cases of unexplained infertility.

At a Glance

  • ICSI is performed with male factor infertility or when using frozen sperm
  • A single sperm is injected into the egg for fertilization
  • Men with extremely low sperm counts can have fertilization and IVF success rates which match those of couples with other diagnoses

When is ICSI Used?

ICSI is commonly used in IVF, and when needed, is included in our fees. The male fertility testing guides us to know if it will be needed. Some of the factors ICSI helps overcome are:

  • The man has low sperm count
  • The sperm are not motile (do not “swim”)
  • The sperm morphology, or shape, is not normal
  • A male reproductive tract blockage
  • Unexplained infertility

How ICSI Works

In cases of frozen sperm or low sperm characteristics, the fertilization may fail when IVF is done. In these cases, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is commonly a component of IVF. A single sperm is injected through the zona pellucida, the thin transparent layer surrounding the egg, directly into the egg in order to enhance fertilization. This precision technique involves selecting a single sperm with a tiny needle. Then a micro-manipulation device holds the egg, which is only 80 microns in size (approximately half the size of the period at the end of this sentence), and then injects the single sperm head into the egg. When this is carried out, the success rate is excellent, and fertilization can be just as good as with normal sperm. This has enabled many men to overcome infertility. The safety of ICSI has been confirmed by a number of studies.

ICSI Success

With ICSI, men with extremely low sperm counts can have fertilization and IVF success rates which match those of couples doing IVF with no male factor concerns and without ICSI.

ICSI Risks

Occasionally an egg is damaged by the ICSI procedure, but this is uncommon. The long-term net effects of ICSI are quite safe. There are some studies that show a population of babies after ICSI has a slightly higher incidence of birth defects. However, this is a skewed population involving men with male factor, some of whom may have inherent chromosomal or genetic defects themselves. It is difficult to determine if the defect is rarely caused by the procedure or if the sperm in male factor situation is the source of the defect.

I Felt Like I Was Visiting Friends
I Felt Like I Was Visiting FriendsREAD MORE
Read More
They were genuinely compassionate about our situation and listened to our concerns and opinions. His laid back personality put us at ease and was a stark contrast to the other doctors we had seen who were always rushed, condescending, and egotistical.
After Several Unsuccessful IUI Attempts at Another Specialist
After Several Unsuccessful IUI Attempts at Another SpecialistREAD MORE
Read More
Wow – what a difference they made in our infertility journey. They truly made us feel like family.
I Felt Special – Not Like Just Another Number
I Felt Special – Not Like Just Another NumberREAD MORE
Read More
Dr. Massey and his clinic gave me hope when I didn’t feel like there was any.
Patient, Compassionate, Sincere
Patient, Compassionate, SincereREAD MORE
Read More
I began this IVF process at two other clinics but never felt comfortable … This practice was much more affordable and flexible right from the start! There was no unnecessary testing and, more importantly, no long waits.
We Could Only Do IVF If It Was Affordable
We Could Only Do IVF If It Was AffordableREAD MORE
Read More
We were so blessed that our first IVF round worked! We had our little girl in April 2013. She is an amazing gift and I thank Dr. Massey and his staff for giving her to us.
Thank God, After All These Years, We Finally Found our Doctor!
Thank God, After All These Years, We Finally Found our Doctor!READ MORE
Read More
Dr. Massey was always so confident about going against all the odds we’ve had in our way to build our family. I will never forget his words: “Ok, ain’t gonna be easy BUT we are gonna make it happen.” Those words were music to our ears. Infertility sucks (we all know that!) and certainly there’s nothing else you want to hear than there’s hope and there’s always a way to make it happen.
I Dealt with Years of PCOS & Endometriosis
I Dealt with Years of PCOS & EndometriosisREAD MORE
Read More
With the sincerest gratitude, Dr. Massey and team...I THANK YOU!
The Other Clinic Told Us to Adopt
The Other Clinic Told Us to AdoptREAD MORE
Read More
A family friend encouraged us to take one last look at IVF. We knew we did not want to go back to the same doctor, so we began looking for someone new. My wife was then 37 and I was 32. We were very fortunate to find Dr. Massey's office where they offered the IVF process for almost half of what the previous doctor charged.
We Got Married Later in Life
We Got Married Later in LifeREAD MORE
Read More
I got married in my late 30s as many women do these days, never imagining that I would have fertility issues.
They Let Me Do Monitoring in My Home Town
They Let Me Do Monitoring in My Home TownREAD MORE
Read More
We were so excited and knew that this time it was going to work and it did! We now have a 5-month-old boy that we feel is our little miracle.
Personalized Care AND Low Cost!
Personalized Care AND Low Cost!READ MORE
Read More
Our son recently turned 10 months old and is happy and healthy in every way possible. We have begun the planning for our next child and look forward to working with them again.
Nine Years of Patience Brings Eduardo, Jr.
Nine Years of Patience Brings Eduardo, Jr.READ MORE
Read More
Thank you to all who have made my husband and I so happy and for taking the time to explain each step of our journey.
We Were Dealing with Male Factor Infertility
We Were Dealing with Male Factor InfertilityREAD MORE
Read More
We are so thankful to have found Dr. Massey online when we searched “low cost IVF centers” on Google. We have beautiful twins because of it! Our fertility journey began in 2005 when we started trying to conceive but knew we had some potential obstacles to deal with even though I was only 23 years old.
An Individualized Treatment Plan Was Key
An Individualized Treatment Plan Was KeyREAD MORE
Read More
Our gratitude is immeasurable. Thank you so, so much!
Single Mother by Choice
Single Mother by ChoiceREAD MORE
Read More
"On the second IVF cycle I got pregnant and now I have a beautiful little boy!"
Previous
Next

quicklinks