Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI is a technique used in cases of male infertility due to low sperm counts and for some egg issues. ICSI involves putting a single sperm directly into a mature egg. Approximately 30% of all infertility is due to a significant male factor problem. ICSI has revolutionised the treatment of infertility. Prior to the first successful ICSI pregnancy in 1992, very little could be offered to couples with severe male factor infertility, aside from using donor sperm. Sometimes an instrument called a polscope, which can ‘look’ inside the egg, is used in the laboratory to facilitate ICSI. The polscope maximises the chance of an egg to fertilise and divide.
