Male Infertility IVF Treatment and ICSI

It is believed that approximately 10% to 15% of all men are born with some degree of male infertility, and approximately one-third of the time, a couple’s infertility can be solely attributed to male infertility.

Reproductive Health
There is mounting evidence that environmental factors have a significant impact on male reproductive health. Please review the IVF Diet and Lifestyle page and follow the recommendations as closely as possible.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Most infertile men produce sperm yet may not be able to cause pregnancy through intercourse or artificial insemination.

In recent years, the prospect of being able to conceive one’s genetic child has increased considerably for men with male factor infertility. In situations where patients had to use a sperm donor in the past, we will now almost always be able to use the partner’s sperm to fertilize the eggs.

Typically male fertility potential cannot be increased by taking medications or surgically (i.e., removal of a varicocele), but all but the most severe forms of male infertility can be overcome with In Vitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

Men with a congenital block of vas deference or previous vasectomy will require testicular sperm aspiration.

In Vitro Fertilization

IVF can be used for moderately severe degrees of male infertility; more severe degrees will require the ICSI procedure.

ICSI

ICSI has allowed infertile men, who would not have been able to cause pregnancy in the past, to father children. ICSI can be used even if there are only occasional sperm found in a semen sample. ICSI is also used for men with unproven fertility (never sired a pregnancy) and for couples with unexplained infertility.

 

 

In ICSI, a single live sperm is inserted directly into the center of an egg. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection requires a high degree of expertise and is performed with a special microscope and micromanipulators.

ICSI has been used extensively in Advanced Reproductive Treatments since 1993, and hundreds of thousands of babies have been born worldwide using ICSI.