For couples facing difficulty conceiving, assisted reproductive techniques can provide additional options when conventional fertility treatment does not achieve fertilisation. ICSI treatment in Mumbai is an advanced form of IVF in which a single sperm is directly injected into a mature egg using a specialised micropipette. Dr. Manjushri Kothekar, an experienced IVF and infertility specialist at Chembur Fertility Clinic, provides consultation for couples considering IVF and ICSI based on their individual fertility assessment.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, commonly known as ICSI, is an IVF technique designed to assist fertilisation when sperm may have difficulty entering an egg naturally. Unlike conventional IVF, where a large number of sperm are placed around the egg and fertilisation occurs when one sperm penetrates it, ICSI involves selecting a single sperm and injecting it directly into the egg’s cytoplasm.
Following fertilisation, the developing embryo is monitored in the laboratory. Depending on its development and the treatment plan, embryo transfer may take place after a few days. A pregnancy test is generally performed around two weeks after embryo transfer.
ICSI is particularly considered when fertilisation may be affected by male-factor infertility or when previous IVF has resulted in poor or failed fertilisation. The reference information for Dr. Manjushri Kothekar lists several situations in which ICSI may be considered:
The decision to use ICSI should be individualised. It is not automatically necessary for every IVF cycle, and a fertility specialist can assess whether it is appropriate after reviewing both partners’ fertility investigations.
ICSI forms part of an IVF cycle and requires specialised laboratory expertise. The process broadly involves several stages.
1. Sperm collection: Sperm may be obtained through ejaculation. When this is not possible or appropriate, sperm retrieval procedures may be considered.
2. Ovarian stimulation: Fertility medicines are used to encourage the ovaries to develop multiple mature eggs.
3. Egg retrieval: Mature eggs are collected using a procedure performed under anaesthesia and guided by vaginal ultrasound.
4. Sperm selection and injection: In the laboratory, an embryologist selects an appropriate sperm and uses a very fine needle to inject it directly into the egg.
5. Fertilisation assessment: The eggs are assessed after injection to determine whether fertilisation has occurred.