Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) utilized in combination with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) allows otherwise sterile couples to become parents. Despite the actual fact that the oldest IVF conceived baby1 is now over 30 years aged , questions on the safety of assisted reproductive technologies persist. The future follow-up of the primary generation of IVF/ICSI offspring offers a clearer picture of the security of those technologies; despite these recent studies, however, there’s still only an incomplete picture of the risks related to the usage of those assisted reproductive techniques(ART) to offspring. The risk of multiple gestation continues to be of major concern due to its association with low birth weight, preterm delivery and increased perinatal mortality.
In this procedure, the oocyte is ready by removing its outer coat of cells called the cumulus complex. Once laid bare, the oocyte is held gently by a holding pipette under an inverted microscope.
The sperm that has been prepared for microinjection is injected through a really fine micropipette into the cytoplasm (body) of the oocyte.
The oocyte holding pipette and therefore the injection pipette are 20 and 60 times thinner than human hair respectively. The microinjected egg is returned to the incubator and checked the subsequent day for fertilization.
This procedure is ideally suited in cases of very low sperm counts (oligozoospermia) or zero count (azoospermia), little or no (asthenospermia) or complete lack of motility and abnormal shape of the sperm (teratozoospermia).
Its use is extended to women with advanced age, women affected by endometriosis and people with immunological and unexplained infertility.