In 1978, the reproductive landscape experienced a historical moment when the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedure led to its first successful live birth. In this process, doctors retrieve mature eggs and combine them with sperm in a laboratory, allowing fertilization to occur on its own—outside the human body—before the resulting embryos are monitored and transferred to the uterus.
More than a decade later, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was developed to address cases where fertilization may be difficult, particularly when sperm quality or quantity is a concern. Instead of leaving sperm to fertilize the egg on its own, an embryologist carefully selects one sperm and injects it directly into a mature egg.
The use of ICSI has grown considerably worldwide over the past two decades. For instance, in the United States., its use grew from 36% of IVF cycles in 1996 to 76% in 2012. At Fertility Philippines, we offer IVF with ICSI based on each patient’s fertility needs.
How Does ICSI Help In Pregnancy
Fertility is often thought to decline entirely with a woman’s age, diminished ovarian reserve, or conditions such as endometriosis. While these factors can affect the number and quality of eggs, they do not mean that the uterus stops being capable of carrying a pregnancy. With a viable egg and healthy sperm, fertilization can still occur and an embryo can implant in the uterus.
At Fertility Philippines, a semen analysis measures sperm concentration, movement (motility), and shape (morphology). According to the World Health Organization’s Manual, semen must have at least 39 million sperm per ejaculate, 30% progressive motility, and 4% normal morphology to support a successful fertilization. The assessment also helps identify concerns such as azoospermia, the absence of sperm in the semen; oligozoospermia, a low sperm concentration; asthenozoospermia, reduced sperm motility; and teratozoospermia, a high proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology.
When these sperm-related concerns make fertilization more difficult, ICSI can help overcome these challenges. An embryologist selects a single sperm and injects it directly into a mature egg, making ICSI particularly useful for certain male-factor fertility concerns.
Is IVF With ICSI Safe For Everyone
IVF with ICSI can be an option for patients with limited sperm availability, including those who need TESA (testicular sperm aspiration) or TESE (testicular sperm extraction). TESA uses a fine needle to aspirate sperm directly from the testicle, while TESE uses a small incision to remove a small amount of testicular tissue for sperm retrieval. Additionally, depending on their fertility needs and medical history, patients may also consider donor eggs or sperm, while preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) may be recommended in certain cases to screen embryos for specific genetic or chromosomal conditions.
Like any fertility treatment, IVF with ICSI carries some risks. During ovarian stimulation, medicines encourage the ovaries to develop multiple eggs for retrieval. Depending on the patient’s ovarian response, some may experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), where the ovaries become enlarged and may cause abdominal discomfort or cramping. When a patient has a high risk of OHSS, doctors may freeze the embryos and delay transfer until a later cycle.
At Fertility Philippines, we recognize our patients’ different needs and provide personalized treatment recommendations. Reach out to us to discuss your fertility options with our specialist.