Commonly, when couples are struggling to conceive, they will automatically assume that the fertility problem lies with the woman. However, this isn’t always the case and approximately half of the couples who are unable to conceive naturally will be experiencing problems due to male infertility on its own or along with a female factor. However, all couples should be aware that there are still brilliant fertility treatments available to assist them even if they are struggling with male infertility. 

One of the most commonly recommended treatments to help couples who are struggling to conceive due to problems such as having a low sperm count, for example, is ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). This fertility treatment is often compared to conventional IVF cycles, yet it does differ slightly making it more suitable for couples struggling with male infertility. To help anyone who is wanting to learn more about ICSI treatment, below is some information that covers all of the basics. 

What is ICSI treatment?

If you have heard of IVF treatment and know what this entails, you will likely know the basics of ICSI treatment too. Similar to IVF, during ICSI egg collection will take place and a semen sample will need to be produced. The eggs and semen will then be used to produce an embryo(s) which will be replaced into the woman’s womb. 

However, in IVF, fertilisation takes place in a dish where many sperm are placed near an egg, but this isn’t how ICSI works. During this slightly more complex treatment, a single sperm is selected and injected directly into an egg and the fertilisation process will take place. The sperm that is used for the insemination will also be assessed under a microscope to ensure that suitable sperms are selected for this part of the process.  

Who is ICSI suitable for?

As mentioned above, ICSI treatment is designed to assist couples who are struggling to conceive due to male fertility problems. This treatment has successfully helped couples overcome problems such as; low or absent sperm concentration, motility, morphology or presence of anti-sperm antibodies.

Many don’t realise that ICSI can also be beneficial to men who have no sperm in their ejaculate too. Whether this is due to problems with sperm production or even a blockage in the passage, surgical sperm recovery can be used during ICSI treatment. Careful surgical extraction of the sperms will still enable fertility specialists to proceed, which is incredibly beneficial to know. 

What is ICSI treatment cost?

There are a few different ways that you can pay for ICSI treatment and the price of this treatment will depend on the option that you choose and also a number of different factors. To provide you with a ballpark figure to consider, you can expect ICSI treatment to cost; around £7000 for an all-inclusive package and around £9000 for a multi-cycle package.

In order to get a much better idea of pricing, it is beneficial to reach out to a fertility clinic.  

Are there any other similar treatments?

Other than conventional IVF treatments, there is one other specific treatment that is worthwhile bearing in mind should you be experiencing problems with male infertility; IMSI IVF. This treatment enables specialists to have a far closer look and select optimal sperm for ICSI.  

Using a microscope with very high magnification, specialists can carefully look inside the sperm cells and assess them in a way that isn’t possible with a conventional ICSI microscope. With this magnification, they’re able to identify and reject sperm with even the tiniest defects.

Speaking to a fertility specialist about ICSI treatment 

All in all, should you be experiencing problems with male infertility and you’re worried about being able to father a pregnancy, it is undeniably worthwhile looking into ICSI in more detail. Hopefully, you will now know the basics of this fertility treatment and you can begin to consider whether it would be something that you’re interested in undertaking. Of course, it is always beneficial to speak to a fertility specialist about things in more detail before deciding. 

Here at London IVF and Genetics Centre, we provide couples with a range of fertility treatments and should you be struggling to conceive, we will work closely with you to find a solution that is suitable for your individual circumstances. Should you have any questions at all about ICSI treatment or if you’d like to find out more about the other treatment options available, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. Every member of our team is sensitive to your needs and we sincerely care about your outcome, so you will be in the best hands with us.