{"id":39567,"date":"2025-06-23T12:57:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/what-is-icsi\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T12:57:36","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:57:36","slug":"what-is-icsi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/","title":{"rendered":"What is ICSI?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>ICSI<\/strong>, commonly known for its abbreviation in English for\u00a0<strong>Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection<\/strong>, is an assisted reproduction technique that forms part of\u00a0<strong>In Vitro Fertilisation<\/strong>\u00a0treatment and is used in the majority of fertility clinics.<\/p>\n<p>This technique involves introducing one spermatozoid into the cytoplasm of one of the female\u2019s eggs for the purpose of achieving fertilisation, and later on a pregnancy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Tabla de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#When_do_we_utilise_ICSI_in_assisted_reproduction_laboratories\" >When do we utilise ICSI in assisted reproduction laboratories?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#For_what_types_of_patients_is_ICSI_indicated\" >For what types of patients is ICSI indicated?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#In_cases_for_which_we_use_sperm_from_the_partnerspouse\" >In cases for which we use sperm from the partner\/spouse:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#In_cases_for_which_we_use_donor_sperm\" >In cases for which we use donor sperm:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#Success_rates_with_ICSI\" >Success rates with ICSI:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#Is_there_a_greater_risk_of_congenital_malformations_when_using_ICSI\" >Is there a greater risk of congenital malformations when using ICSI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#Preparing_the_eggs_for_ICSI\" >Preparing the eggs for ICSI<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/#Preparing_the_sperm_sample_for_ICSI\" >Preparing the sperm sample for ICSI.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_do_we_utilise_ICSI_in_assisted_reproduction_laboratories\"><\/span><strong>When do we utilise ICSI in assisted reproduction laboratories?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To understand this term you will first need to know what\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/in-vitro-fertilisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in vitro fertilisation<\/a>\u00a0is. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) involves obtaining eggs from the female\u2019s ovaries through a simple procedure called egg retrieval; these eggs will later be inseminated with sperm in the laboratory. The sperm may be from the patient\u2019s partner, or it may be donor sperm in the case of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/become-a-mother-if-i-dont-have-partner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">single mothers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are two ways insemination can be performed: the first is through conventional\u00a0<strong>IVF<\/strong>\u00a0which involves putting the spermatozoids in contact with the eggs on a Petri dish in hopes that fertilisation will occur.<\/p>\n<p>The other method is<strong>\u00a0ICSI,<\/strong>\u00a0a technique that is carried out using intracytoplasmic microinjectors. These microinjectors are microscopes that feature micro-handling equipment that allow the embryologists to microinject, with a microneedle,\u00a0<strong>one single spermatozoid\u00a0<\/strong>into the cytoplasm of one egg.<\/p>\n<p>Once they have been microinjected, the eggs are left to develop in the incubator and the following day the embryologists will confirm whether\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/?p=39563\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fertilisation<\/a>\u00a0has taken place.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"For_what_types_of_patients_is_ICSI_indicated\"><\/span><strong>For what types of patients is ICSI indicated?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The medical specialist is the one who will decide if this technique should be used, and this decision will depend on each patient\u2019s particular case.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_cases_for_which_we_use_sperm_from_the_partnerspouse\"><\/span><strong>In cases for which we use sperm from the partner\/spouse:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Previous failed cycles with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/artificial-insemination-frequently-asked-questions-about-this-assisted-reproduction-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">artificial insemination<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Unexplained infertility.<\/li>\n<li>Absence of or damaged fallopian tubes.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/endometriosis-and-fertility-everything-you-need-to-know-if-you-want-to-become-a-mother\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Endometriosis<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/how-to-interpret-a-sperm-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Low sperm count\/poor sperm motility<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/is-it-possible-to-get-pregnant-if-my-cycles-are-irregular\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ovulation abnormalities<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Immune-related causes.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/how-a-females-age-impacts-her-fertility-and-chances-of-becoming-a-mother\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Advanced maternal age and the need to perform PGT<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_cases_for_which_we_use_donor_sperm\"><\/span><strong>In cases for which we use donor sperm:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Very severe male factor infertility.<\/li>\n<li>Previous failed cycles using partner sperm.<\/li>\n<li>Single females.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/how-a-females-age-impacts-her-fertility-and-chances-of-becoming-a-mother\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Same-sex female couples<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/how-a-females-age-impacts-her-fertility-and-chances-of-becoming-a-mother\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Advanced maternal age<\/a>\u00a0and the need to perform\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/pre-implantation-genetic-diagnosis-spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing<\/a>\u00a0(PGT).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At any rate, even if a patient meets the requirements for conventional IVF, many fertility clinics prefer to use the ICSI technique to obtain the highest possible fertilisation rates.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Success_rates_with_ICSI\"><\/span><strong>Success rates with ICSI:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally speaking, fertilisation\u00a0<strong>rates using ICSI<\/strong>\u00a0are quite high. We can say that between\u00a0<strong>70-80% of eggs correctly fertilise<\/strong>\u00a0when the ICSI technique is used, meaning that 7 to 8 eggs fertilise for every 10 that are microinjected.<\/p>\n<p>Between the time of fertilisation and the days of embryo development that follow, not all embryos will be viable or apt for transfer to the female\u2019s uterus.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/embryo-classification-by-quality-for-in-vitro-fertilisation-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here<\/a>\u00a0you can read more about embryos and their classification before they are transferred to the patient.<\/p>\n<p>There are times when we may observe fertilisation rates that are much lower than the average, or we may even observe something called fertilisation failure which is when no eggs have fertilised<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/?p=39563\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This article<\/a>\u00a0written by our clinic director and senior embryologist, Dr Miguel Lara, will help you better understand<strong>\u00a0fertilisation failure<\/strong>\u00a0and its possible causes.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s very rare for fertilisation failure to occur, but it happens. These cases will require a comprehensive analysis of the patient\u2019s case before proceeding with a new cycle of assisted reproduction treatment. A complete review of the patient\u2019s case is the only way we will be able to draw valid conclusions and determine the best way forward in order to minimise, to the extent possible, the likelihood of obtaining the same outcome again.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_a_greater_risk_of_congenital_malformations_when_using_ICSI\"><\/span><strong>Is there a greater risk of congenital malformations when using ICSI?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are many studies that have been published on this topic, all of which conclude that there is a slightly higher risk of congenital malformations when using ICSI than compared to children conceived through natural conception; these studies, however, conclude that this slight increase can be attributed to the couple\u2019s own\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/female-infertility-conditions-and-diseases-that-can-cause-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cause of infertility<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At any rate, the different scientific societies, including the Spanish Fertility Society, are keeping a close eye on these potential problems.<\/p>\n<h2><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3657 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ICSI.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 981px) 100vw, 981px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ICSI.png 981w, https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ICSI-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ICSI-768x550.png 768w\" alt=\"ICSI\" width=\"981\" height=\"703\" \/><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preparing_the_eggs_for_ICSI\"><\/span><strong>Preparing the eggs for ICSI<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once the eggs have been retrieved through\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/?p=39498\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ovarian puncture<\/a>, they will remain in the incubator for a few hours so that they can finish maturing.<\/p>\n<p>After about 3-4 hours, the embryologists will be able to begin working with the eggs to prepare them for microinjection.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preparing_the_sperm_sample_for_ICSI\"><\/span><strong>Preparing the sperm sample for ICSI.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The male will need to provide the laboratory with a sperm sample obtained through masturbation; at the time the sample is provided he should have a\u00a0<strong>sexual abstinence of between two to five days.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is also very\u00a0<strong>important that no more than 45 minutes has gone by between the time the sample is obtained and the time it is handed in to the assisted reproduction specialists<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The male partner normally provides the sperm sample while the female is undergoing the egg collection procedure. The laboratory can also work with a frozen sperm sample if it\u2019s not going to be possible for the male to provide a fresh sample on the day of egg retrieval; the laboratory can also work with sperm obtained via\u00a0<strong>testicular biopsy<\/strong>\u00a0in the event that the male has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/azoospermia-and-assisted-reproduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">azoospermia<\/a>\u00a0or has previously undergone a vasectomy.<\/p>\n<p>Once the sperm sample has been received by the laboratory staff, it will undergo a process called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/?p=39469\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sperm capacitation<\/a>. Sperm capacitation essentially consists in eliminating seminal plasma from the ejaculate in order to retrieve the spermatozoids with the best motility and the highest fertilisation potential.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ICSI, commonly known for its abbreviation in English for\u00a0Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, is an assisted reproduction technique that forms part of\u00a0In Vitro Fertilisation\u00a0treatment and is used in the majority of fertility clinics. This technique involves introducing one spermatozoid into the cytoplasm of one of the female\u2019s eggs for the purpose of achieving fertilisation, and later on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[499],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assisted-reproduction-treatments-and-techniques"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39567"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39569,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39567\/revisions\/39569"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}