If You’re Struggling to Conceive, ICSI May Be the Support You’ve Been Searching For

When Daniel and Priya learned that male factor infertility was part of their story, they felt a mix of surprise, sadness, and hope. 

Their doctor mentioned ICSI, and at first, the term sounded technical and unfamiliar. However, as they learned more, they realized it represented something powerful and a chance to move forward with a deeper understanding.

At King Square Fertility, every treatment is guided by compassion, expertise, and genuine respect for your story. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through how ICSI works, who it can help, and what to expect during treatment, helping you approach this next step with clarity and calm.

What is ICSI?

ICSI, or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, is an advanced fertility treatment that helps when sperm have trouble fertilizing an egg on their own. 

It is often recommended for couples or individuals facing male factor infertility, such as low sperm count, poor sperm movement, or problems with sperm shape or function.

In natural conception or standard IVF, lots of sperm surround an egg, and one eventually penetrates it for fertilization. 

With ICSI, a single healthy sperm is carefully selected by an embryologist and injected directly into the egg using a microscope and specialized tools. 

This precise technique provides the sperm with a direct path to the egg, thereby increasing the likelihood of fertilization.

ICSI is often used alongside IVF. While IVF focuses on retrieving eggs and allowing fertilization to happen in the lab, ICSI takes it a step further by helping the sperm reach and fertilize the egg directly. 

This approach has helped many couples achieve pregnancy, even when other treatments have not been successful.

Procedure Overview

Understanding each step of the ICSI process can help ease some of the uncertainty that comes with fertility treatment. 

Here is what typically happens:

• Ovarian Stimulation and Egg Retrieval: The process begins with ovarian stimulation, where medication helps your ovaries produce multiple mature eggs. 

When the eggs are ready, they are retrieved through a short, minimally invasive procedure. This is usually done under light sedation to make you as comfortable as possible.

• Sperm Collection and Preparation: A sperm sample is collected, usually from the male partner on the same day as the egg retrieval. In some cases, sperm may be obtained surgically if needed. 

The lab team then carefully prepares the sample, selecting the healthiest and most active sperm for injection.

• Fertilization through ICSI: During ICSI, the embryologist uses a fine glass needle to inject a single sperm into each mature egg. 

The goal is to help the sperm bypass any barriers that might prevent fertilization naturally. 

The fertilized eggs, now referred to as embryos, are then cultured in the laboratory for several days as they begin to develop.

• Embryo Transfer: After a few days of growth, one or more healthy embryos are selected and transferred into the uterus. 

This procedure is quick and gentle, similar to a Pap test. If implantation occurs, pregnancy begins naturally within the uterus.

Expert Male Fertility Care in Markham and Surrounding Areas in Ontario

King Square Fertility offers discreet and expert care for men navigating fertility challenges or planning for the future.

Our on-site andrology lab offers advanced semen testing to evaluate sperm count, motility, morphology, and volume, all of which are crucial indicators of reproductive potential. 

These results help our specialists determine whether treatments such as ICSI or other male fertility options may be right for you.

You deserve clear answers, compassionate guidance, and care that respects your privacy and aligns with your goals. 

Ask your doctor for a referral and book a male fertility assessment directly with our team.