ICSI Specialist

What is ICSI?

ICSI is a delicate insemination process in which a single sperm is injected into an egg to achieve fertilization. At Gago Center for Fertility, Dr. Gago and her team use ICSI during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments when the sperm isn’t capable of locating and joining with an egg either in the uterus or in a lab.

Why would I need ICSI?

Dr. Gago may recommend ICSI for many reasons, including:

• Low sperm count
• Abnormally shaped sperm
• Poor sperm mobility
• Previous unsuccessful cycles of IVF
• If you’ve had a vasectomy
• Using frozen sperm for IVF
• If you have preimplantation genetic screening

ICSI has high fertilization success rates, and when combined with preimplantation genetic testing, it can increase your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy.

What happens during an ICSI procedure?

ICSI begins with sperm retrieval. You can provide a sperm sample manually, or Dr. Gago can perform a minimally invasive sperm retrieval procedure if you’ve had a vasectomy. The sperm retrieval process uses a thin, hollow needle to collect sperm cells directly from your testes.

After your sperm sample is collected, a fertility lab tech washes and separates your sperm. Then, the fertility lab technician holds a single egg in a tiny pipette. They use a thin hollow needle to pick up a single sperm cell. Next, the technician uses the needle to inject the sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg.

The next day, Dr. Gago checks the egg cells for signs of fertilization. Any fertilized eggs are allowed a few days to multiply before Dr. Gago performs the embryo transfer procedure.

How do I know if ICSI is right for me?

If you’ve been trying to have a baby for a year — or six months if you are over the age of 35 — without success, you should make an appointment for fertility testing. Both male and female partners should be tested for fertility issues. These tests determine the causes of your fertility issues and identify the best fertility treatments to help you conceive. If the tests detect problems with the male partner’s sperm, Dr. Gago may recommend ICSI as an option.

Call Gago Center for Fertility or schedule a consultation online today for expert fertility testing and customized treatments to help you grow your family.