🧬 Advanced Fertility Technology

ICSI – Intracytoplasmic
Sperm Injection

Q: Is ICSI better than IVF?

For male-factor infertility, yes, ICSI is significantly better than conventional IVF because it achieves fertilisation regardless of sperm count or motility. For couples with normal sperm, conventional IVF and ICSI have comparable success rates, though ICSI is often chosen even then as it removes the risk of fertilisation failure.

Q: Is ICSI painful?

The ICSI microinjection itself is performed on eggs in the laboratory, so the patient does not feel anything during fertilisation. The only procedure that involves the patient is the egg retrieval, done under intravenous sedation and generally painless. Some mild cramping may occur for 1-2 days afterward.

Q: Are ICSI babies healthy? Are there higher risks of birth defects?

Multiple large studies have shown that ICSI babies have no significantly higher risk of birth defects compared to naturally conceived children or standard IVF babies. Genetic counsellors discuss specific concerns related to male factor genetic causes during consultation.

Q: How many eggs are needed for ICSI?

Ideally, 8-15 mature eggs are retrieved per cycle, giving more embryos to select from. However, even with fewer eggs (3-5), ICSI can still result in a successful pregnancy.

Q: Can ICSI be done if my husband has zero sperm (azoospermia)?

Yes. For men with azoospermia, sperm can be retrieved directly from the testis or epididymis using a minor surgical procedure under local anaesthesia. These retrieved sperm are then used directly for ICSI.

Q: How many embryos will be transferred?

Matrushri follows evidence-based guidelines, typically transferring 1-2 embryos depending on age, embryo quality, and history. Single embryo transfer is recommended for patients under 35 with good-quality blastocysts.

Q: What is the difference between ICSI and PICSI?

PICSI is an advanced version of ICSI where sperm is selected using a hyaluronan binding assay. Sperm that bind are physiologically mature with lower DNA fragmentation. PICSI is recommended for patients with high sperm DNA fragmentation or previous ICSI failure.

Q: What is the typical timeline for an ICSI cycle?

A full ICSI cycle from Day 1 of stimulation to pregnancy test takes approximately 5-6 weeks. A frozen embryo transfer cycle with already-frozen embryos takes about 3-4 weeks.

The most precise and effective fertility technology available — a single healthy sperm is micro-injected directly into each mature egg, achieving fertilisation rates unmatched by conventional IVF. The gold-standard for severe male-factor infertility.

🧬 Single-Sperm Precision

📊 70–85% Fertilisation Rate

✅ Class 1000 IVF Lab

👨‍⚕️ 22+ Fertility Specialists

📅 Book Free Consultation Learn More ↓

🏆 Matrushri ICSI Outcomes

70–85%

Fertilisation rate per cycle

50–60%

Clinical pregnancy rate

15K+

Families helped

Clinics across AP & TG

🏥 Azoospermia

🔬 Low Sperm Count

🧪 Poor Motility

💉 Donor Sperm

💡 ICSI vs Standard IVF: ICSI achieves fertilisation even with just a few viable sperm — making it the best option when conventional insemination would likely fail.

About the Procedure

What is ICSI Treatment?

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a specialised form of IVF where a single sperm is selected by an embryologist under a high-powered microscope and injected directly into a mature egg. This bypasses all the natural barriers to fertilisation — the cervix, fallopian tubes, and the egg's outer shell — making it the most powerful treatment for male infertility.

Unlike conventional IVF, where thousands of sperm are placed near an egg and fertilisation depends on the sperm finding and penetrating the egg on its own, ICSI guarantees the sperm reaches the egg. This results in significantly higher fertilisation rates, particularly when sperm quality is poor or counts are very low.

At Matrushri, ICSI is performed in our Class 1000 IVF laboratory using state-of-the-art micromanipulation equipment by highly trained embryologists, ensuring the safest and most successful outcomes for each patient.

🧬 Key Difference from IVF: In conventional IVF, sperm and eggs are mixed and left to fertilise naturally. In ICSI, our embryologist handpicks the best single sperm and injects it directly into each egg — achieving fertilisation even with extremely low sperm counts or zero natural motility.

🔬 How ICSI Works – Step by Step

Ovarian Stimulation

8–12 days of gonadotropin injections to grow multiple mature follicles

Egg Retrieval (OPU)

Ultrasound-guided transvaginal procedure under light sedation

Sperm Collection / Retrieval

Ejaculate, TESA, PESA, or TESE depending on the male diagnosis

Microinjection (ICSI)

Single sperm injected into each mature MII egg under 400× magnification

Embryo Culture (3–5 days)

Fertilised eggs cultured to cleavage or blastocyst stage in incubator

Embryo Transfer

Best-quality embryo(s) transferred into the uterus via soft catheter

Pregnancy Test (Day 14)

Beta-hCG blood test confirms implantation and pregnancy

🏆 Highest fertilisation technology available

Why Choose ICSI

Key Benefits of ICSI Treatment

ICSI offers advantages that conventional fertility treatments simply cannot match — especially when sperm quality is a limiting factor.

🎯

Works with Very Low Sperm Count

Even if only a handful of motile sperm are present — or sperm must be surgically retrieved — ICSI can achieve fertilisation. Just one viable sperm per egg is all that's needed.

📈

Highest Fertilisation Rates

ICSI achieves 70–85% fertilisation rates per egg, significantly outperforming conventional IVF (50–60%) in cases of male factor infertility or previous IVF fertilisation failure.

🧫

Combines with Advanced Lab Tech

ICSI can be paired with Blastocyst Culture, PGT/PGS genetic screening, or PICSI (physiological selection) for even better embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes.

🔬

Overcomes Previous IVF Failure

If a previous IVF cycle had poor or zero fertilisation despite adequate sperm counts, ICSI is the recommended next step — it bypasses the natural fertilisation barrier entirely.

🧬

Works After Surgical Sperm Retrieval

For men with azoospermia (no sperm in ejaculate), sperm retrieved via TESA, PESA, or micro-TESE can be used directly in ICSI — making fatherhood possible even without ejaculated sperm.

🛡️

Safe for Eggs & Embryos

When performed by skilled embryologists, ICSI is safe with no evidence of increased birth defect rates compared to conventional IVF. Matrushri's embryologists undergo specialist training in micromanipulation.

Candidacy

Who Needs ICSI?

ICSI is recommended when conventional IVF or IUI is unlikely to succeed due to sperm-related challenges or specific clinical factors.

✅ ICSI is Recommended For

✓

Severe oligospermia (very low sperm count <5 million/mL)

✓

Severe asthenospermia (poor motility <5% progressive)

✓

Azoospermia (no sperm in ejaculate — with surgical retrieval)

✓

High sperm DNA fragmentation (>25% DFI)

✓

Severe teratospermia (abnormal morphology)

✓

Previous IVF cycle with zero or poor fertilisation

✓

Frozen or surgically retrieved sperm (TESA/PESA/TESE)

✓

Use of donor sperm with limited availability

✓

Antisperm antibodies affecting fertilisation

✓

Couples combining ICSI with PGT/PGS genetic testing

⚠️ When ICSI Alone May Not Be Sufficient

✗

Severely diminished ovarian reserve (very few eggs retrieved)

✗

Uterine abnormalities preventing embryo implantation

✗

Certain chromosomal translocations (PGT-SR needed alongside)

✗

Repeated implantation failure (ERA test / immunological workup needed)

✗

Non-obstructive azoospermia with complete testicular failure

✗

Severe endometrial receptivity issues

✗

Women with active pelvic infections or untreated PCOS

💡 Our specialists conduct a full diagnostic workup before recommending ICSI — including semen analysis, AMH, antral follicle count, and uterine assessment.

Treatment Journey

Your ICSI Treatment Protocol

A personalised, closely monitored journey from consultation to pregnancy test — every step guided by our fertility team.

Phase 1 — Preparation

Baseline Assessment

Complete fertility workup — semen analysis, AMH, AFC ultrasound, hormonal panel, uterine evaluation. Male and female factors assessed together.

Protocol Planning

Personalised stimulation protocol designed — Long, Short, Antagonist or Mini-IVF — based on ovarian reserve, age, and prior history.

Phase 2 — Stimulation & Retrieval

Ovarian Stimulation

8–12 days of FSH/HMG injections with serial ultrasound monitoring (Day 2, 6, 9, 11). Trigger shot given when follicles reach 17–20mm.

Egg & Sperm Retrieval

Transvaginal egg collection (OPU) under IV sedation. Simultaneously, sperm collected via ejaculation, TESA, PESA, or TESE as required.

Phase 3 — Lab & Fertilisation

ICSI Microinjection

Each mature egg is immobilised using a holding pipette. A single selected sperm is aspirated in an injection needle and inserted into the egg's cytoplasm by a specialist embryologist.

Embryo Culture

Fertilised eggs cultured in time-lapse incubators for 3–5 days. Embryos graded daily. Blastocyst culture (Day 5) preferred for best implantation potential.

Phase 4 — Transfer & Result

Embryo Transfer (ET)

1–2 best embryos transferred into the uterus via ultrasound-guided soft catheter. Optional PGT genetic screening done before transfer. Quick, painless procedure.

Pregnancy Test

Luteal support (progesterone) given for 2 weeks. Beta-hCG blood test on Day 14 post-transfer. If positive, viability ultrasound at 6–7 weeks.

Success Data

ICSI Success Rates at Matrushri

Our outcomes are tracked per cycle and are benchmarked against national and international fertility standards.

70–85%

Fertilisation Rate

Per mature egg injected using ICSI technique

50–60%

Pregnancy Rate

Clinical pregnancy (under 35 yrs, fresh cycle)

40–50%

Live Birth Rate

Per embryo transfer, fresh cycle, age <35

65%+

Blastocyst Rate

Of fertilised embryos reaching Day 5 blastocyst

🔑 Factors Affecting ICSI Success

Female Age Most critical

Ovarian Reserve (AMH / AFC) High impact

Embryo Quality (Blastocyst) High impact

Endometrial Receptivity Moderate impact

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Moderate impact

Lab Quality & Embryologist Skill Key

* Success rates are indicative and vary per individual. Age >40 carries lower success rates. Consult our specialists for personalised prognosis.

Pricing

ICSI Treatment Cost at Matrushri

Transparent, all-inclusive pricing. No hidden charges. Flexible payment plans available. Final cost confirmed after consultation and protocol design.

🧬

ICSI – Standard

^₹1.20L – 1.60L

Per fresh cycle · Ejaculated sperm

✓ Full ovarian stimulation (injections)

✓ Serial monitoring scans (6–8)

✓ Egg retrieval (OPU) with sedation

✓ ICSI microinjection in Class 1000 lab

✓ Day 3 or Day 5 embryo transfer

✓ Luteal support & pregnancy test

Book Consultation

Most Recommended

🧫

ICSI + Blastocyst Culture

^₹1.60L – 2.10L

Per cycle · Extended Day 5 culture

✓ Everything in Standard ICSI

✓ Blastocyst (Day 5) culture & grading

✓ Time-lapse embryo monitoring (optional)

✓ Higher implantation potential

✓ Excess blastocyst freezing (vitrification)

✓ Embryo grading report included

Book Consultation

🩺

ICSI + Surgical Sperm (TESA/PESA)

^₹1.80L – 2.50L

Per cycle · Azoospermia protocol

✓ Full ICSI + Blastocyst protocol

✓ TESA / PESA / micro-TESE procedure

✓ Sperm freezing & storage

✓ Andrologist consultation included

✓ Suitable for obstructive & non-obstructive azoospermia

Book Consultation

* Prices are indicative. Medications, anaesthesia fees, genetic testing (PGT/PGS), and additional freezing cycles are separate. Final quote provided after consultation.

For Azoospermia Patients

Surgical Sperm Retrieval Options

For men with no sperm in their ejaculate, Matrushri offers minimally invasive surgical procedures to retrieve sperm directly from the testis or epididymis — which is then used for ICSI.

🩺 Minimally Invasive

TESA

Testicular Sperm Aspiration

A fine needle is inserted into the testis under local anaesthesia to aspirate sperm directly from the testicular tissue. Quick, outpatient procedure with minimal recovery time.

✅ Best for: Obstructive azoospermia, vasectomy reversal candidates

🔬 Epididymal Retrieval

PESA

Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration

Sperm is aspirated from the epididymis (the duct behind the testis where sperm is stored) using a fine needle under local anaesthesia. Typically yields higher sperm numbers.

✅ Best for: Obstructive azoospermia, congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD)

⚗️ Surgical Extraction

Micro-TESE

Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction

Under an operating microscope, testicular tissue is examined to identify tubules likely to contain sperm. Maximises sperm retrieval rates even in non-obstructive azoospermia with the least tissue damage.

✅ Best for: Non-obstructive azoospermia, failed TESA, Sertoli-cell-only syndrome

Treatment Comparison

ICSI vs IVF vs IUI — At a Glance

Understanding the differences helps you choose the right treatment. Our specialists guide you to the most appropriate pathway.

Parameter	🧬 ICSI	🧫 Conventional IVF	🔬 IUI
Fertilisation Method	Single sperm injected into egg	Sperm & egg mixed in dish	Sperm placed in uterus
Fertilisation Rate	70–85% Highest	50–65%	N/A (natural)
Best For	Severe male infertility, azoospermia	Mild male factor, tubal issues	Mild infertility, unexplained
Sperm Needed	Just 1 per egg Any source	50,000–100,000 per dish	5–10 million post-wash
Surgical Retrieval	✅ Works with TESA/PESA/TESE	⚠️ Limited use	❌ Not compatible
Cost per Cycle	₹1.2L – 2.5L Higher	₹1.0L – 2.0L	₹6K – 35K Lowest
Pregnancy Rate (age <35)	50–60% High	40–55%	20–30%
Suitable for PGT Testing	✅ Yes — recommended	✅ Yes	❌ No
Anaesthesia Required	✅ Light sedation (OPU)	✅ Light sedation	❌ Not needed
Lab Complexity	🔬 Class 1000 + micromanipulation	🔬 Class 1000 lab	Basic sperm prep

💡 Our recommendation: ICSI is the preferred first-line treatment for any degree of male-factor infertility. For couples with good sperm quality and female-factor issues only, standard IVF may be equally effective at lower cost.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About ICSI

Answers to the questions we hear most from patients considering ICSI treatment at Matrushri.

Is ICSI better than IVF?+

For male-factor infertility, yes — ICSI is significantly better than conventional IVF because it achieves fertilisation regardless of sperm count or motility. For couples with normal sperm, conventional IVF and ICSI have comparable success rates, though ICSI is often chosen even then as it removes the risk of fertilisation failure.

Is ICSI painful?+

The ICSI microinjection itself is performed on eggs in the laboratory — so the patient does not feel anything during fertilisation. The only procedure that involves the patient is the egg retrieval (OPU), which is done under intravenous sedation and is generally painless. Some mild cramping may occur for 1–2 days after OPU.

Are ICSI babies healthy? Are there higher risks of birth defects?+

Multiple large studies have shown that ICSI babies have no significantly higher risk of birth defects compared to naturally conceived children or standard IVF babies. The main concern with ICSI used for genetic male factor (e.g. Y-chromosome microdeletion) is that the genetic cause may be passed to male offspring — our genetic counsellors discuss this during the consultation.

How many eggs are needed for ICSI?+

Ideally, we aim to retrieve 8–15 mature (MII) eggs per cycle. More eggs give more embryos to select from, increasing the chance of having high-quality blastocysts for transfer and freezing. However, even with fewer eggs (3–5), ICSI can still result in a successful pregnancy — our embryologists work with every viable egg.

Can ICSI be done if my husband has zero sperm (azoospermia)?+

Yes. For men with azoospermia, sperm can be retrieved directly from the testis (TESA) or epididymis (PESA) using a minor surgical procedure done under local anaesthesia. These retrieved sperm are then used directly for ICSI. Matrushri has an experienced andrology team performing these procedures routinely alongside ICSI cycles.

How many embryos will be transferred?+

At Matrushri, we follow evidence-based guidelines — typically transferring 1–2 embryos depending on age, embryo quality, and history. Single embryo transfer (SET) is recommended for patients under 35 with good-quality blastocysts to minimise the risk of twins while maintaining high success rates. Surplus good-quality embryos are vitrified (frozen) for future use.

What is the difference between ICSI and PICSI?+

PICSI (Physiological ICSI) is an advanced version of ICSI where sperm is selected using a hyaluronan (HA) binding assay — sperm that bind to HA are physiologically mature and have lower DNA fragmentation. This adds an extra layer of sperm quality selection on top of morphological assessment. PICSI is recommended for patients with high sperm DNA fragmentation or previous ICSI failure.

What is the typical timeline for an ICSI cycle?+

A full ICSI cycle from Day 1 of stimulation to pregnancy test takes approximately 5–6 weeks: Day 1–12 stimulation, Day 13–14 egg retrieval and ICSI, Day 15–20 embryo culture (Day 3 or Day 5 transfer), then 14 days of luteal support before the pregnancy blood test. A frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle with already-frozen embryos takes about 3–4 weeks.

Success Stories

Families Made Possible Through ICSI

Real stories from patients who overcame severe male infertility at Matrushri with ICSI treatment.

★★★★★

My husband was diagnosed with azoospermia — we were told parenthood was impossible. Matrushri's team performed TESA and then ICSI. We got 4 embryos, transferred one blastocyst, and our son was born 9 months later. Miraculous.

Vimala & Suresh T.

Tirupati · ICSI with TESA · 1st cycle

★★★★★

After 2 failed IVF cycles at another clinic with zero fertilisation, we came to Matrushri. The embryologist recommended ICSI with PICSI because of high DNA fragmentation. First ICSI cycle — 3 embryos, transferred one, and we conceived. Unbelievable!

Ramya & Kiran P.

Hyderabad · ICSI + PICSI after failed IVF

★★★★★

My sperm count was only 0.5 million — the other clinic said IVF wouldn't work. Matrushri recommended ICSI and explained everything patiently. The procedure was smooth, 5 eggs fertilised, and we now have twins. The care here is exceptional.

Anitha & Praveen M.

Hyderabad · ICSI · Severe oligospermia

ICSI – IntracytoplasmicSperm Injection

What is ICSI Treatment?

Key Benefits of ICSI Treatment

Who Needs ICSI?

Your ICSI Treatment Protocol

ICSI Success Rates at Matrushri

ICSI Treatment Cost at Matrushri

Surgical Sperm Retrieval Options

ICSI vs IVF vs IUI — At a Glance

Book YourICSI Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions About ICSI

Families Made Possible Through ICSI

Often Combined With ICSI

ICSI – Intracytoplasmic
Sperm Injection

Book Your
ICSI Appointment