Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

The relatively new technique of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI which is pronounced icksee) represents a major advance in the treatment of male infertility. Using micromanipulation of the egg and sperm, a single sperm is injected into the cytoplasm of the egg. Candidates for ICSI include:


  1. men with failed fertilization when eggs are regarded as normal,

  2. men with severe untreatable male factor infertility,

  3. men with sperm counts of < 1 million/ml,

  4. men requiring microsurgical or percutaneous sperm aspiration (MESA, PESA),

  5. men with obstructive male factor infertility, and

  6. other clinical situations attributed to sperm abnormalities.


The risks and benefits of this procedure should be fully discussed with your physician. Men with congenital obstruction of the vas should be screened for cystic fibrosis prior to ICSI.