Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (icsi)
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) was pioneered by by Dr. Gianpiero Palermo in 1992 and has revolutionzed infertility treatment. Strictly speaking, ICSI does not treat infertility, but allows to bypass sperm or eggs deficiency, that would otherwise render conception impossible.
Dr. Dmitri Dozortsev, Reproductive Laboratory Director at our center, is credited with the discovery of the mechanism of ICSI during his Ph.D. studies in Belgium in 1993-95. His work has contributed greatly to the consitency of fertilization using this procedure. Dr Dozortsev is one of the most expirienced Embryologists in the country and is currently serving as a President of American College of Embryology.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is performed during an IVF cycle several hours after retrieval of the eggs from the patient. During the ICSI procedure, a single sperm is injected directly into the center of the egg using a microscopic needle and an instrument known as a micromanipulator.
The sperm may be obtained from the male partner or in severe male factor infertility (extremely low sperm count), directly from the reproductive tract (MESA) or the testicles (TESA). Once the sperm is inserted into the egg a high percentage of eggs will fertilize. ICSI is especially effective in cases of moderate to severe male factor infertility because it greatly improves the chance of fertilization. ICSI is indicated for the following patients or clinical situations:
- Male Infertility- Low sperm count
- Abnormally shaped sperm
- Male or Female antisperm antibodies
- Frozen sperm obtained surgically
- Prior IVF failure
- Prior poor fertilization
- Small number of retrieved eggs
