ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

ICSI is a micromanipulation technique that was developed to overcome male infertility. It is a variation of IVF and is applied when the estimated fertilization rates would be very low or nil using conventional IVF.

For the patient, the phases and the procedures are the same as in conventional IVF as for ICSI. The only difference is in the lab work the biologist performs. In conventional IVF, the sperm fertilizes the egg on its own and in ICSI, the biologist selects the most adequate sperm and then injects it into the egg.

PICSI (Phisiological ICSI)

So far, the only available technique for selecting sperm has been visual observation by embryologists. With the PICSI procedure (intelligent hyaluronic acid hydrogel method), we are able to determine sperm selection in the same way that happens in human biology. Sperm are placed on a sheet containing hyaluronic acid hydrogel, this is a natural polymer found in all human cells, including the pellucid area surrounding the oocytes.

Mature and biochemically competent sperm bind to hyaluronic acid, while immature spermatozoa move freely. This provides the embryologist with better sperm selection to continue the process of ICSI-microinjection. This procedure simulates a key step in the process of natural fertilization, the joining of mature sperm with the egg.