It is possible that, in case there is a problem of male infertility in the couple, you will hear about these techniques in the assisted reproduction clinic. Here are some keys to differentiate them well:
What is ICSI?
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproduction technique that is frequently used in in vitro fertilization treatments. ICSI is usually indicated in cases of male infertility, since it allows the fertilization of the egg with a single sperm.
What is this technique useful for?
Thanks to this technique, it is possible to inseminate an egg by microinjecting a sperm. The difference is that to perform a normal IVF, between 50,000 and 100,000 sperm are needed, while in ICSI only one sperm per egg is necessary. This is a very useful technique that has changed the prognosis of men with few sperm since it is not necessary to have a good sperm count in order to generate an embryo and thus become parents.
What is IMSI?
Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI) is a laboratory technique used in in vitro fertilization cycles that allows to select the sperm with the best morphology and the highest probability of fertilization.
What is this technique useful for?
Using this technique, it is possible to observe the sperm through an 8,000 magnification microscope. To get a better idea, this means that it would be a microscope 20 times more powerful than those usually used to perform ICSI (400 magnification). In this way, embryologists can thoroughly examine the nucleus and membranes of the sperm to select those with the best internal morphology and, therefore, those most likely to succeed in the implantation of the pre-embryo.
Our experts in Barcelona IVF will recommend the technique that best suits your needs. If you have any other questions, you can get information at Barcelona IVF by sending us an e-mail to info@bcnivf.com or by calling +34 934 176 916.