Intracytoplasmic sperm injection can help overcome severe male infertility

When patients are struggling to conceive due to severe male infertility, The Fertility Center of Las Vegas offers an Oasis of Hope. One of the most effective treatments for this diagnosis is intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI. A Las Vegas fertility doctor at our practice may order this treatment to overcome causes of male infertility that range from a very low sperm count to poor sperm quality.

How does ICSI work?

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection occurs as part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Laboratory fertilization occurs after the steps of ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval. During a traditional IVF cycle, an embryologist will combine each egg with sperm in a petri dish. The goal is to allow the sperm to swim to the egg and penetrate its shell to achieve fertilization. To accomplish fertilization using ICSI, our embryologists will perform the following steps.

• An embryologist will use a tiny needle (micropipette) to inject a single sperm into the center of an egg.
• He or she will allow the fertilized eggs (embryos) to grow in the laboratory for a few days before freezing them or transferring one to the uterus.

This treatment is highly effective, resulting in the fertilization of 50% to 80% of all eggs. As a result, a Las Vegas fertility doctor at our practice may recommend it to you.

What types of patients can benefit from intracytoplasmic sperm injection?

ICSI is best known as a treatment for severe male infertility. Some examples include low sperm count, poor sperm morphology (shape) and poor sperm motility (movement). It can also help if the sperm have trouble attaching to and penetrating the egg.

A Las Vegas fertility doctor at our practice may also prescribe intracytoplasmic sperm injection if a man has a blockage that prevents the sperm from being ejaculated. In this case, they order a testicular biopsy and use testicular sperm for ICSI.

Patients may also opt for this fertility treatment in the following situations.

• Unexplained infertility
• Previous IVF failure or recurrent miscarriage
• Use of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to avoid contamination from other sperm

At The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, we also recommend ICSI to any patient who simply wants to improve their chance of experiencing IVF success. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about this fertility treatment and how it can help you become a parent.