In “traditional” in vitro fertilization each egg is placed together with a predetermined number of spermatozoa so that one of them can penetrate into the interior of the egg and fertilize it.
A prerequisite to this technique is a sufficient number, good motility and normal sperm morphology.
For many couples for which “traditional” Fertilization won’t work due to serious problems in sperm (oligoasthenoteratospermia, obstructive azoospermia, e.t.c), ICSI is the solution to the problem.
Micro fertilization (ICSI – Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) brought a revolution in IVF in the ‘90s, giving hope to couples facing serious male infertility problems.
During ICSI the embryologist selects an adequate spermatozoon for injection into the oocyte. In this way good or bad quality oocytes may be fertilized even by weak sperm.
In cases of obstructive azoospermia, sperm is retrieved from the testicles surgically.
This method’s successful implementation globally, for more than three decades, along with the evolution of micromanipulation of oocytes, allows its safe use, giving solutions to a variety of fertility problems.