Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
This technique involves an individual sperm being injected directly into an egg. (It is injected into the outer part of the egg – the cytoplasm.) This method bypasses any natural barriers that may have been preventing fertilization. For example, some cases of infertility are due to the sperm of a male partner not being able to penetrate the outer part of the egg to fertilize the egg. ICSI can also be used when a male partner has a low sperm count, as only one sperm is needed.
If needed, a sperm can also be obtained by a small operation to the testis. This may be done when sperm cannot be produced in the usual way. For example, if the male partner has a blocked vas deferens, or has had a vasectomy.
The egg containing the sperm is then placed in the womb in the same way as with IVF. ICSI is used for couples who have failed to achieve fertilization through IVF, or where the quality or number of sperm is too low for normal IVF to be likely to succeed.