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ICSI (Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is an additional procedure to conventional IVF. Up until the point of fertilisation the two procedures are the same. There difference is the way of fertilisation.
In conventional IVF procedures the egg is mixed with the sperms in a petri dish and the strongest, healthiest sperm reaches the egg and fertilises it.

The egg is gently secured from one side while a sperm is injected directly into the egg on the other end using a very delicate, tiny diameter needle.

With ICSI embryologists choose the most active and healthy sperm and inject it directly into the egg. This way sperms that otherwise may not have been able to fertilize the egg can be used.

When is ICSI needed?

1. Bad quality sperms:
a. Low quantities of sperms
b. Low % of mobile sperms (less than 20%)
c. High % of abnormal sperms (greater than 70%)
d. Weak targeting (progressive) activity.
2. When during previous IVF cycles the number of eggs spontaneously fertilized was zero or very low (below 20%)
3. When the ejaculate contains no sperms, the ICSI procedure can still be carried out using sperms operatively withdrawn from testicle or epididymis tissue. (TESE or PESA)

What are the risks of ICSI?

Statistics on pregnancies following an ICSI procedure show no statistically significant increase in the rate of developmental disorders. Although there is a slight increase in some developmental problems is still not know whether is caused by the technique itself or by the underlying infertility.
It has been shown that the risk of miscarriage is higher in pregnancies that are achieved by ICSI. The reason for that might be that sperms are used that without ICSI would not have been able to fertilise the egg.

Price comparison

Treatment type	Our prices	Prices in UK	Savings
IVF - in vitro fertilisation	£ 1400	£2800	£1400
ICSI - intra cytoplasmic sperm injection	NOW ONLY! £199	£1020	£821
AHA - assisted hatching	£150	£500	£350
ICSI and AHA	NOW ONLY! £300	£1520	£1220

See more fertility treatment prices

For further information on any treatment please contact us.