Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?
ICSI is a form of IVF where a single, healthy sperm is selected and injected directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg. This method bypasses potential barriers to fertilisation and is performed under a powerful microscope to ensure precision.
What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?
ICSI is a form of IVF where a single, healthy sperm is selected and injected directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg. This method bypasses potential barriers to fertilisation and is performed under a powerful microscope to ensure precision.
What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?
ICSI is a form of IVF where a single, healthy sperm is selected and injected directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg. This method bypasses potential barriers to fertilisation and is performed under a powerful microscope to ensure precision.
Is ICSI Right for Me?
ICSI may be a good fit, if you are:
ICSI may be a good fit, if you are:
facing male factor infertility
using frozen eggs
Your Guide to IVF with ICSI
At Bridge Clinic, we are committed to using the most advanced and effective treatments to help you build your family. For many of our patients, this involves a specific type of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) that uses a technique called ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).
This guide will walk you through your entire IVF with ICSI journey, explaining how this powerful combination works to give you the best possible chance of success.
Who is IVF with ICSI Recommended For?
IVF with ICSI is a highly effective treatment for a wide range of circumstances. It is often the recommended path if you are facing:
Male Factor Infertility: This is the most common reason for using ICSI and is highly successful in overcoming challenges with sperm health, including low count, poor movement (motility), or abnormal shape (morphology).
Surgical Sperm Retrieval: If sperm has been collected directly from the epididymis or testes (e.g., after a vasectomy), ICSI is essential for fertilisation.
Previous IVF Fertilisation Issues: If a past IVF cycle had a low fertilisation rate, using ICSI in a subsequent cycle can significantly improve outcomes.
Using Frozen Eggs: The process of thawing can harden the egg's outer shell, and ICSI is the most reliable way to achieve fertilisation.
Unexplained Infertility: When the cause of infertility is unclear, ICSI can help bypass potential un-diagnosed fertilisation barriers.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): ICSI is used to ensure that only a single sperm fertilises the egg, which is crucial for the accuracy of genetic testing.
Other Fertility Factors: Conditions like blocked fallopian tubes or ovulation disorders can be treated with IVF, and ICSI is often included to maximise the chances of creating healthy embryos.
The IVF with ICSI Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your journey will follow the same core stages as an IVF cycle, with ICSI being the specific method used in the laboratory to fertilise your eggs.
Step 1: Initial Consultation & Preliminary Tests Your journey starts with a thorough consultation with a fertility specialist. We will conduct blood tests and a pelvic ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve and a comprehensive semen analysis to evaluate sperm health.
Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation To maximise the number of eggs available, you will take injectable medications for around 10-14 days. This stimulates your ovaries to produce several mature eggs at once.
Step 3: Monitoring During stimulation, you will visit the clinic for regular ultrasound scans and blood tests. This allows us to track follicle growth and tailor your treatment for the best possible outcome.
Step 4: The Trigger Shot & Egg Retrieval A final hormone injection prepares the eggs for collection. About 36 hours later, you will have the egg retrieval procedure—a short, minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation at our clinic.
Step 5: Fertilisation in the Laboratory Using ICSI This is where the ICSI technique plays its vital role. On the same day as your egg retrieval, our highly skilled embryologists will begin the fertilisation process in our state-of-the-art lab:
Sperm Selection: The sperm sample is prepared and analysed under a powerful microscope. The embryologist selects the single best, healthiest-looking sperm.
Egg Preparation: The mature eggs collected during your retrieval are prepared, and the outer cells are gently removed to get a clear view.
The Injection: Using sophisticated micro-manipulation tools, the embryologist uses an incredibly fine, hollow needle to pick up the selected sperm and inject it directly into the centre (cytoplasm) of the egg.
Checking for Fertilisation: This process is repeated for all suitable mature eggs. They are then placed in an incubator, and our team will check them the next morning for signs of successful fertilisation.
Step 6: Embryo Culture and Development The successfully fertilised eggs, now embryos, are cultured in our laboratory for 3 to 5 days. Our team monitors them as they grow, aiming for the robust "blastocyst" stage, which has the highest chance of implantation.
Step 7: The Embryo Transfer This is a simple and usually painless procedure. Using a soft catheter, the specialist carefully places the best-quality embryo into your uterus under ultrasound guidance.
Your Guide to IVF with ICSI
At Bridge Clinic, we are committed to using the most advanced and effective treatments to help you build your family. For many of our patients, this involves a specific type of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) that uses a technique called ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).
This guide will walk you through your entire IVF with ICSI journey, explaining how this powerful combination works to give you the best possible chance of success.
Who is IVF with ICSI Recommended For?
IVF with ICSI is a highly effective treatment for a wide range of circumstances. It is often the recommended path if you are facing:
Male Factor Infertility: This is the most common reason for using ICSI and is highly successful in overcoming challenges with sperm health, including low count, poor movement (motility), or abnormal shape (morphology).
Surgical Sperm Retrieval: If sperm has been collected directly from the epididymis or testes (e.g., after a vasectomy), ICSI is essential for fertilisation.
Previous IVF Fertilisation Issues: If a past IVF cycle had a low fertilisation rate, using ICSI in a subsequent cycle can significantly improve outcomes.
Using Frozen Eggs: The process of thawing can harden the egg's outer shell, and ICSI is the most reliable way to achieve fertilisation.
Unexplained Infertility: When the cause of infertility is unclear, ICSI can help bypass potential un-diagnosed fertilisation barriers.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): ICSI is used to ensure that only a single sperm fertilises the egg, which is crucial for the accuracy of genetic testing.
Other Fertility Factors: Conditions like blocked fallopian tubes or ovulation disorders can be treated with IVF, and ICSI is often included to maximise the chances of creating healthy embryos.
The IVF with ICSI Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your journey will follow the same core stages as an IVF cycle, with ICSI being the specific method used in the laboratory to fertilise your eggs.
Step 1: Initial Consultation & Preliminary Tests Your journey starts with a thorough consultation with a fertility specialist. We will conduct blood tests and a pelvic ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve and a comprehensive semen analysis to evaluate sperm health.
Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation To maximise the number of eggs available, you will take injectable medications for around 10-14 days. This stimulates your ovaries to produce several mature eggs at once.
Step 3: Monitoring During stimulation, you will visit the clinic for regular ultrasound scans and blood tests. This allows us to track follicle growth and tailor your treatment for the best possible outcome.
Step 4: The Trigger Shot & Egg Retrieval A final hormone injection prepares the eggs for collection. About 36 hours later, you will have the egg retrieval procedure—a short, minimally invasive procedure performed under light sedation at our clinic.
Step 5: Fertilisation in the Laboratory Using ICSI This is where the ICSI technique plays its vital role. On the same day as your egg retrieval, our highly skilled embryologists will begin the fertilisation process in our state-of-the-art lab:
Sperm Selection: The sperm sample is prepared and analysed under a powerful microscope. The embryologist selects the single best, healthiest-looking sperm.
Egg Preparation: The mature eggs collected during your retrieval are prepared, and the outer cells are gently removed to get a clear view.
The Injection: Using sophisticated micro-manipulation tools, the embryologist uses an incredibly fine, hollow needle to pick up the selected sperm and inject it directly into the centre (cytoplasm) of the egg.
Checking for Fertilisation: This process is repeated for all suitable mature eggs. They are then placed in an incubator, and our team will check them the next morning for signs of successful fertilisation.
Step 6: Embryo Culture and Development The successfully fertilised eggs, now embryos, are cultured in our laboratory for 3 to 5 days. Our team monitors them as they grow, aiming for the robust "blastocyst" stage, which has the highest chance of implantation.
Step 7: The Embryo Transfer This is a simple and usually painless procedure. Using a soft catheter, the specialist carefully places the best-quality embryo into your uterus under ultrasound guidance.