ICSI is an excellent option when male factor problems exist including men who have a very low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or very abnormal sperm structure, or morphology. ICSI may also be used for men with azoospermia, a condition in which no sperm are present in their ejaculate. Overall, ICSI makes it possible for couples to have a baby when the man has poor sperm quality.

With ICSI, the woman will take specific fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries to develop mature eggs for fertilization. Once the eggs are mature, she undergoes an egg retrieval procedure. The physicians at the Center for Reproductive Medicine will remove the eggs from her ovaries by inserting a needle through the vaginal wall.

Next, the male will provide a semen sample. If the sperm is not present in the ejaculate, there are various outpatient methods to acquire a healthy sperm. A single sperm is then injected into each retrieved egg from the woman. The fertilized eggs are allowed to grow for 2 to 5 days. The resulting embryos are inserted into the woman's uterus in which a normal pregnancy should occur. The woman will be able to have a pregnancy test about two weeks after the embryos are placed in her uterus.