Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a technique that has been developed to maximise the chance of fertilisation. The procedure involves injecting a single sperm into the centre of each oocyte (egg).
During ICSI, the sperm doesn’t have to travel to the egg or penetrate its cumulus cells or outer layers. Instead, our scientists use sperm microinjection to inject a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of the egg.
At our clinics, we use a medium called Sperm Slow™ during sperm selection. This medium contains hyaluronan (HA), which binds sperm that are more likely to have normal DNA and thus allows the selection of these bound sperm for injection. By selecting the sperm that are bound to HA and using them for ICSI, the embryologists are preferentially using the better-quality, more mature sperm. Please note that, while this technique using HA is standard practice, it may not be suitable in every case depending on individual circumstances.
The treated eggs are checked the day after the ICSI procedure to see if fertilisation has occurred.
Please click on the image below to view in full and download our infographic.
For full details on the IVF treatment procedure and the lowdown on what to expect, head to our IVF page.
Rainbow Fertility has a range of donor sperm and donor eggs available, with no waitlist. Call our Fertility Advice Team on 1300 222 623 to find out more.
PLEASE NOTE:
For the egg: as ICSI is more invasive and requires more handling than standard IVF insemination techniques, there is a small chance (less than 5%) that the egg may be damaged during the procedure – resulting in a non-viable egg.
People contemplating fertility treatment should be aware of the possible risks, some of which are comparable to those of elective surgery. We encourage you to discuss these with your treating specialist.
At Rainbow Fertility, our specialists have extensive experience in helping create LGBTQ+ families. Feel free to contact our friendly team to learn more about our donor program and the fertility treatment options available to you.
