How does ICSI treatment work?
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment means fertilising the egg manually. It is a specialised form of IVF used to treat infertility and help couples conceive. In ICSI fertility treatment, a single sperm is directly injected into the egg in a laboratory. This process is usually recommended when there is low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or other male factor infertility issues that affect natural fertilisation. With ICSI treatment, couples can overcome male infertility problems and improve fertilisation rates in IVF. However, for high success, it is equally important that the egg is of good quality.
The ICSI fertility treatment procedure is completed within a few hours and is performed immediately after egg retrieval to ensure optimal egg quality. The fertilisation rate with ICSI is around 70–80% per egg, which increases the overall pregnancy rate to about 50%. However, success also depends on factors like the woman’s age, embryo quality, and uterine health. On average, the conception rate is around 30–40% per cycle, but it tends to decrease if the woman is above 38–40 years of age.
How does ICSI treatment work?
ICSI treatment works in 6 main steps, starting with consultation, followed by ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and semen collection, ICSI fertilisation, embryo culture, and finally, embryo transfer. Each step needs to be performed carefully to improve the success rate.
Let’s explore the ICSI treatment step by step:
Consultation
The ICSI fertility treatment procedure begins with a series of fertility tests for both partners.
For females, the doctor checks the uterus, fallopian tubes, and overall reproductive health through scans and hormone tests. For males, a semen analysis is done to evaluate sperm count, motility, and quality. These tests help the doctor understand the cause of infertility and plan the most effective and personalised treatment for you.
Ovarian Stimulation
In this step, hormonal injections are given to the woman to stimulate the ovaries and help them produce multiple mature eggs. These injections usually start on day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle and continue for about 10 to 12 days. During this time, you’ll have to visit the clinic regularly for ultrasound scans and blood tests so your doctor can monitor how your ovaries are responding. Based on the results, your medication dose may be adjusted. Once the eggs are ready, a trigger injection (such as hCG or leuprolide acetate) is given to help the eggs mature and prepare them for retrieval, the next step in the ICSI treatment process.
Egg Retrieval and Egg Retrieval
In this step, egg retrieval is performed about 36 hours after the trigger injection. The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and is done under general anaesthesia to make it painless and comfortable. At the same time, a semen sample is collected from the male partner. The sample is kept for about 30 minutes to liquefy, and then it is washed to remove any debris, immobile sperm, or unwanted substances.
If the semen analysis shows normal results, the doctor may proceed with standard IVF fertilisation. However, if the sperm count or motility is low, then ICSI treatment is chosen, where a single healthy sperm is carefully injected directly into the egg using a fine needle. This step requires high precision and expertise from an experienced embryologist to ensure successful fertilisation.
ICSI Treatment
This step is performed after the eggs are retrieved and the semen analysis is complete.
Here, the embryologist uses a very fine micropipette under a microscope to select a healthy, well-shaped sperm with good progressive motility. The selected sperm is then injected directly into a mature egg, ensuring precise fertilisation. The process is repeated for each egg to maximise the chances of successful fertilisation. After the injection, the fertilised eggs are kept in an incubator for about 24 hours, and the next day, they are checked for signs of normal fertilisation. This confirms whether the egg and sperm have successfully combined to form an embryo.
Embryo Culture
In the fifth step of ICSI treatment, the fertilised eggs (embryos) are carefully placed in a special incubator for about 5 to 6 days. During this time, they develop and grow into the blastocyst stage, which means they are ready for transfer into the uterus. After fertilisation, not all embryos grow strong; only the healthiest ones are selected for transfer to ensure a higher chance of pregnancy. At Medigrace Hospital, the best IVF centre in Nagpur, advanced embryo culture technology and experienced embryologists ensure that every step from fertilisation to blastocyst development is done with precision and care for the best possible success.
Embryo Transfer
The last step of ICSI treatment takes about 2 to 4 hours and marks the most crucial phase, embryo transfer. Here, the embryologist selects the healthiest blastocyst (embryo) that has the best chance to develop into a baby. Using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter, the doctor gently places the embryo through the cervix into the uterus.
The embryo is carefully released into the uterine cavity, where it can implant on the uterine wall and begin to grow naturally. After about 2 weeks, you will be called for a pregnancy blood test or an ultrasound to confirm if the implantation was successful. This is a painless and short procedure, yet it’s one of the most emotionally significant moments of the entire ICSI journey.
Conclusion
ICSI treatment is a specialised form of IVF in which a single sperm is manually injected into a mature egg. It is often preferred in cases of severe male infertility, provided the woman has healthy eggs. The procedure is performed in six steps, similar to IVF, and requires highly skilled specialists due to its delicate nature. For the best outcomes, consult Medigrace Hospital, one of the top IVF centres in Nagpur, led by Dr. Rasika, the best gynaecologist in Nagpur, to increase your chances of parenthood.
FAQs
The ICSI takes around 1 month or more.
Yes! ICSI increases the chances of pregnancy.
The steps in ICSI involve ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm collection and preparation, manually injecting each sperm into the egg, and finally transferring the embryo into the uterus.
The success rate of ICSI first time is more than 50%, but it also depends upon various factors like the woman’s age, egg and sperm quality, etc.
