Written by Dr Peng Ng, a specialist at City Fertility Brisbane Southside
Modern fertility medicine is nothing short of remarkable. Reproductive science continues to improve as do IVF success rates, offering more hope than ever to people dreaming of a baby.
One of the most important innovations was Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI as its commonly called. ICSI is a well-established form of IVF. Since its development in the early 1990s it has assisted in the birth of over 6 million children worldwide.
With up to 60% of infertility cases attributed to the male partner, ICSI has truly transformed the way fertility clinics approach male infertility, giving couples possibilities where previously there were few or none.
So why is ICSI different to standard IVF and what does it involve?
- ICSI is a specialised form of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) used primarily for the treatment of severe cases of male factor infertility.
- ICSI involves the careful selection of a single sperm which is then injected directly into a mature egg by a skilled scientist. In contrast, standard insemination IVF aims to have 100,000 mobile sperm being added to the egg within an IVF culture dish and allows to fertilise on their own accord.
- ICSI requires a high level of skill and precision when sperm quality and/or quantity is poor.
- About 5% of eggs can lyse (die) with ICSI
In these circumstances the sperm may not be able to fertilise an egg as they have problems breaking through the egg’s outer shell. That’s where ICSI comes in. An embryologist helps the sperm by injecting a single sperm directly into the centre of the egg. Following the ICSI process, approximately 65% of mature eggs will fertilise (Istanbul Consensus)
How do we select sperm for ICSI?
Selecting the best sperm for fertilisation is a highly skilled and precise process, carried out by our experienced embryologists. At City Fertility, in addition to our skilled embryologists selecting active sperm with normal appearance. We employ a process called pICSI, using a medium called Sperm Slow™ which contains hyaluronan (HA). It is found in the cells that surround an egg. Research shows that sperm that bind to Hyaluronan tend to have lower sperm DNA damage.
Selecting these sperm for ICSI, with the use of Hyaluronan, the aim is to improve the outcomes of ICSI cycles. It can assist in improving embryo quality and pregnancy rates.
How successful is ICSI?
At City Fertility, around 70% of mature eggs will fertilise normally after ICSI. It is important to understand that fertilisation rates can vary depending on variable individual factors such as egg and sperm quality, age, weight and overall health.
Does ICSI affect pregnancy rates?
Whether an embryo was fertilised using standard IVF or ICSI, the overall chance of pregnancy after embryo transfer is generally similar. What matters most are individual circumstances such as age, lifestyle factors and the cause of infertility. ICSI is typically reserved to treat male factor infertility and is unlikely to change the likelihood of pregnancy following embryo transfer.
Seeking More Help
At City Fertility, our specialists work closely with individuals to identify the best fertility treatment pathway for their unique circumstances.
If you’ve been advised that ICSI may be suitable for you, or would like to learn more about the process, visit our ICSI treatment page.
Ready to take the next step? Book an appointment with our team today.
