ICSI and TESE

When the number of sperm cells after semen preparation is low, or their motility is impaired, the ability to fertilise the oocyte is reduced. To increase the fertilisation rate, the embryologist selects a sperm that looks normal in the microscope, and injects it gently directly into the oocyte using a very thin glass pipette. This process is called microinsemination. Have a look at the video to see how ICSI is performed.

In case the husband has been sick with fever within the last 3 months, using ICSI might be an advantage, because we know that fever affects the sperms ability to fertilise the oocyte, even if they look normal in the microscope.

Men continue to produce sperm after a vasectomy. However, the sperm is not able to leave the testicles due to the operation. In this case, and other circumstances where there is no sperm in the ejaculate, we often find living sperm in a little biopsy from the testicles. The embryologist will isolate the sperms from the biopsy and fertilise the oocyte by introducing a single sperm cell gently into each oocyte using ICSI.

You can read more about ICSI treatment here.