IVF Lab / ICSI

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Advanced micromanipulation technique to overcome male factor infertility and maximize fertilization

What is ICSI?

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a highly specialized IVF laboratory procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg using a microscopic needle. This technique bypasses the natural fertilization process, where sperm must penetrate the egg on their own.

ICSI was developed to treat severe male factor infertility, including low sperm count, poor sperm motility, abnormal sperm shape, or previous fertilization failure. It has revolutionized fertility treatment for couples who would have had little chance of pregnancy through standard IVF.

At Palm Beach Fertility Center in Boca Raton and Aventura, our skilled embryologists perform ICSI with precision and care, achieving excellent fertilization rates even in the most challenging cases.

Who Needs ICSI?

Severe Male Factor Infertility

Low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology

Previous Fertilization Failure

Prior IVF cycles where eggs did not fertilize conventionally

Obstructive Azoospermia

No sperm in ejaculate due to blockage; sperm retrieved surgically (TESE, MESA, PESA)

Using Frozen Sperm

Thawed sperm may have reduced motility, making ICSI beneficial

Genetic Testing (PGT)

ICSI prevents contamination from extra sperm, ensuring accurate PGT results

Low Egg Number

Maximizes fertilization when few eggs are retrieved

The ICSI Procedure

Egg Retrieval

Mature eggs are collected from the ovaries during IVF

Sperm Preparation

Sperm sample is processed and the healthiest sperm are selected

Sperm Injection

Using a glass needle, a single sperm is injected directly into the center (cytoplasm) of each mature egg

Fertilization Check

The next morning, eggs are examined to confirm successful fertilization

Embryo Development

Fertilized eggs (embryos) are cultured in the lab for 5-6 days to blastocyst stage

Embryo Transfer

The best quality embryo is transferred to the uterus

70-80%

Fertilization

ICSI Success Rates

ICSI typically results in fertilization rates of 70-80% of mature eggs injected. Pregnancy success rates with ICSI are comparable to conventional IVF when there are no other fertility factors involved.

For men with severe male factor infertility, ICSI has made biological fatherhood possible in cases that would have otherwise required donor sperm.