Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an advanced assisted reproductive technology (ART) technique used to treat severe male infertility by directly injecting a single sperm into an egg to facilitate fertilization. This procedure is typically performed as part of in vitro fertilization (IVF) when traditional methods of fertilization are unlikely to succeed due to issues such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, abnormal sperm morphology, or previous failed fertilization attempts. During ICSI, mature eggs are retrieved from the woman's ovaries and placed in a petri dish. Using a microneedle, a single sperm is carefully selected and injected directly into the cytoplasm of the egg. If fertilization is successful, the resulting embryos are cultured for a few days before one or more are transferred to the woman's uterus for potential implantation and pregnancy. ICSI is particularly useful in cases of male factor infertility, but it can also be employed in situations where the eggs have a hard outer shell (zona pellucida) that makes fertilization difficult. While ICSI has revolutionized fertility treatments by enabling fertilization in cases where it might not otherwise occur, it does come with potential risks and complications. These can include damage to the egg during the injection process, which may prevent fertilization or lead to abnormal embryo development. Additionally, there is a slightly increased risk of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, particularly if the underlying cause of male infertility is genetic. Despite these risks, ICSI has become a standard procedure in fertility clinics worldwide, significantly improving the chances of successful fertilization and pregnancy for couples facing male infertility challenges.
