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ICSI: Improving Sperm Potency with Direct Placement

If you are having difficulty becoming a father because of inadequate sperm production, then Drs. Martin, Neal, and Retzloff may recommend intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Performed at our San Antonio fertility center, ICSI is a method of fertilizing your partner’s mature eggs during the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. The procedure is accomplished by directly injecting a single, healthy sperm into a mature egg to facilitate fertilization faster and with a higher success rate than other treatment options. If you and your partner want to significantly improve your chances of conception, contact us today to learn more about ICSI, and the high success rate of our infertility treatments.

Problems with Sperm Count and Potency

A semen analysis is a diagnostic procedure that determines the volume, power, and motility (ability to move forward) of the sperm contained in your semen. If your sperm count is too low, or the majority of the sperm you produce are malformed or have trouble moving, your semen’s potency may be inadequate to successfully fertilize your partner’s eggs. A semen analysis also measures the volume of semen per ejaculation, and level of fructose, which provides energy for the sperm. If a sperm disorder is present, particularly related to semen volume and sperm count, ICSI can help us maximize the potential of each healthy sperm cell.

The ICSI Process

IVF is a combination of assisted reproductive technologies that involve retrieving a couple’s healthy eggs and sperm, fertilizing the eggs outside of the mother’s body, and then transferring the embryo into the uterus. During the sperm retrieval phase, we will separate the healthiest sperm from your seminal fluid, and use the concentrated sperm to fertilize the eggs. Traditionally, fertilization is achieved through insemination, or mixing the sperm and eggs and allowing them to incubate overnight. ICSI injects each single sperm into an egg, improving the chances that the sperm will successfully fertilize the egg. The last stage of IVF involves placing the embryo into the mother’s uterus, where she will carry it to term (if it successfully implants in the lining of her uterus).

More about ICSI and IVF

IVF can be performed using a couple’s own eggs and sperm, or donor eggs or sperm, and your unique treatment plan will depend on your specific needs and preferences. There are multiple indications for ICSI, and if you are using the female partner’s eggs, she will be prescribed medication to encourage multiple egg production. To maximize results, we inject as many eggs as possible; however, only mature eggs can successfully receive sperm. Our on-site andrology and embryology laboratory allows us to thoroughly examine and separate mature eggs, as well as the healthiest sperm specimens found in the father’s sample.

Contact the Fertility Center of San Antonio

Our doctors and staff have over 25 years of experience in assisted reproductive technologies and offer an impressive combination of experience and modern medicine to provide highly successful treatment to all of our patients. To learn how we can help you start building your family, schedule a consultation by calling our center today.