ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
ICSI is a form of IVF in which an embryologist injects a single sperm directly into each egg, rather than letting eggs and sperm fertilise on their own. It is the standard choice for moderate to severe male-factor infertility. For couples without a male-factor problem, the evidence shows ICSI does not improve success over ordinary IVF, so it is not routinely needed. It usually adds to the cost of an IVF cycle.
ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is a variation of IVF. Instead of mixing eggs and sperm in a dish and letting fertilisation happen on its own, an embryologist injects a single sperm directly into each mature egg. Every other part of the IVF cycle, the stimulation, egg collection, and embryo transfer, stays the same.
Who ICSI is for
ICSI is the standard approach for moderate to severe male-factor infertility, for example a low sperm count or poor movement, or where sperm has been retrieved directly from the testes (such as in some cases of azoospermia). It is also used after a previous IVF cycle had unexpectedly poor or failed fertilisation.
How it works
The step itself happens in the lab and adds nothing to what you experience during the cycle. After eggs are collected, the embryologist selects a single healthy sperm for each mature egg and injects it using a fine needle under a microscope. Fertilised eggs are then grown into embryos and transferred just as in standard IVF. For the rest of the journey, see what an IVF cycle looks like.
How well it works
Where there is a genuine male-factor problem, ICSI markedly improves the chance of fertilisation compared with standard IVF. Beyond that fertilisation step, success then depends on the same things as any IVF cycle, above all age and egg quality, so the honest live-birth picture mirrors IVF rather than beating it.
ICSI in India
ICSI is an advanced ART procedure, so it is offered by clinics registered at Level 2 on the National ART and Surrogacy Registry. It is usually priced as an add-on to an IVF cycle, commonly a further 20,000 to 50,000 rupees on top of the IVF cost. Ask for it as an itemised line, and ask why it is being recommended for you.
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