In cases of male infertility, chances of fertilization may be improved by injecting sperm directly into the oocyte under microscopic guidance. With this technique, a single sperm is sufficient to fertilize a single oocyte, making it suitable for couples with very low sperm counts. Our unit is very experienced in this technique, and over 100 ICSI babies are born here every year.

The patient undergoes ovulation induction and ovum pick up as usual, and the male partner gives a sample of ejaculate to the lab. The sperm is examined and prepared, and the ova undergo a procedure whereby surrounding cells are peeled away to allow direct access to the oocyte's outer layer. The biologist isolates a single sperm for injection, aspirates it into a microscopic glass needle and injects it directly into the oocyte under the microscope. The fertilization dishes are then transferred into an incubator. The next morning, the oocytes are checked for signs of fertilization.

Embryos are generally transferred back into the patient's uterus on the third day after ovum pick up, when embryos have divided into 4-8 cells. Sometimes, the transfer is postponed to the fifth day, when embryos have developed further and are at the blastocyst stage. The number of embryos transferred is determined according to the medical history and after discussion with the couple.