ICSI stands for Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection. This technique involves the micro injection of a single sperm into an oocyte.

ICSI can be seen as one of the major break throughs in treatment of male infertility since only a few normal sperm are needed for conception. Men who where previously seen as completely sterile now have an excellent chance to have their own child.

Under certain circumstances such as after a vasectomy or in congenital abnormalities of the male reproductive ducts, sperm may be aspirated from the tubular system of the testes or directly from the testicular tissue.

The actual treatment is the same as the 5 stages In Vitro Fertilisation. The only difference is that in the laboratory stage sperm is not placed with the egg but a sperm is injected into the actual egg. The lab work is now highly intricate and skilled. A special microscope called a micromanipulator is used by the lab scientists to do the procedure.