The processes involved in creating a child are delicate and intertwined. Any misstep along the way can result in miscarriage or no pregnancy. One critical step in the process is egg fertilization. When standard insemination is ineffective, there is another lab service called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI.
When low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology is a concern, ICSI is an ideal solution. With ICSI, the embryologist chooses the single best sperm from a sample and injects it directly into an egg for fertilization.
Under normal circumstances, a sperm attaches to the outside of the egg. It then pushes its way through the egg’s outer layer to the cytoplasm inside, where fertilization occurs. There are several reasons why sperm may be unable to penetrate the outer layer. Sometimes, this outer layer is thick or hard. In some instances, the sperm may have motility issues. ICSI and in vitro fertilization (IVF) help fertilize the egg.
