Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

At LifeStart Fertility Center, another specialized IVF laboratory service offered is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). ICSI enables men with poor sperm quality to father children. It is also used in some cases of unexplained infertility. In the ICSI procedure, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg using a microscope, micromanipulation equipment and a microinjection pipette (glass needle).

ICSI has been utilized successfully to treat even the most severe cases of male factor infertility. In men with no or very little sperm present in the ejaculate, sperm for ICSI can be obtained directly from the epididymys or testes. The procedure utilized for direct aspiration of sperm from the epididymys is known as PESA (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration). The procedure for aspiration of sperm from the testis is called TESE (testicular sperm extraction). Sometimes a more detailed procedure known as MESA (microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration) might be utilized to obtain sperm from the epididymys. TESE, PESA and MESA procedures combined with ICSI allow many men, previously considered sterile, to have children.

The ICSI procedure is performed for patients of LifeStart Fertility Center. For more information on the ICSI procedure, please click here to contact us or call us at 818-889-4532 for an appointment.