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Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

If you and your partner have been unable to achieve pregnancy, fertility specialists at the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center can help. We offer intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a specialized procedure used with in vitro fertilization (IVF) that increases your chances of a successful pregnancy and birth.

What Is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?

Embryos used during in vitro fertilization are a result of placing thousands of sperm and a single egg in a lab dish and checking for fertilization the following day. In ICSI, the doctor injects a single sperm into an egg and checks for fertilization the following day.

For many people, this advanced technique results in more embryos and a greater chance of pregnancy than conventional IVF. Using these treatments together may help even if previous IVF cycles have been unsuccessful.

Who Should Consider Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?

Combining ICSI with IVF can enhance fertilization for couples with sperm-related fertility problems. The technique also can help many couples who have had difficulty achieving pregnancy, even those with unexplained infertility.

ICSI may be the right choice for you if infertility is related to:

  • Previous fertilization failures with IVF
  • Extremely low sperm count
  • Poor sperm motility (ability to move or “swim”)
  • Structural blockages in the sperm ducts (vas deferens), which carry sperm from the testicles to the penis

Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center For ICSI: Why Choose Us?

When you come to us for ICSI treatment, you will find:

  • Male infertility experts with specialized training: Our program offers treatment to men by andrologists, board-certified urologists with advanced fellowship training in male infertility care. When needed, our specialists perform a variety of delicate surgical procedures to obtain sperm or a sample of testicular tissue from which to extract sperm for ICSI.
  • Expert embryologists: Successful fertilization with ICSI depends greatly on the skill of the embryologist. To ensure the highest level of care, our embryologists have extensive training and our laboratory is certified by the College of American Pathologists.
  • Individualized treatment: We carefully review each individual case to provide personalized recommendations for treatment. We may suggest using partial ICSI – performing the technique on half of the eggs and conventional fertilization on the other half. This method may be right for you if you have unexplained infertility.

Contact Us

To make an appointment with a Washington University fertility and reproductive medicine specialist at the Women & Infants Center, call 855.925.0631.