If you’ve got a low sperm count or sperm motility problem, did you know there’s a specific fertility treatment designed to help you father a baby?
It’s called ICSI - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection- and although it sounds like a daunting process, it doesn’t involve any kind of procedure on you at all and is actually performed in our laboratory.
Here’s what you need to know about sperm problems, how ICSI helps and our support for you and your partner:
How is ICSI performed?
ICSI works in the same way as IVF, except instead of your sperm being mixed with eggs in our laboratory for fertilisation; a single healthy sperm is extracted from your sample and directly injected into each egg.
How does ICSI help with sperm problems?
ICSI helps if your sperm can’t reach the egg or penetrate it for fertilisation. ICSI would be used if you have problems such as a low sperm count, or poor sperm mobility. It’s also used if your sperm has high levels of DNA damage, which can be a hidden cause of infertility and miscarriage.
How do you choose which sperm to use for ICSI?
As a specialist fertility clinic for men with infertility, our highly skilled lab team are very experienced in ICSI procedures. We examine your sperm sample in our laboratory and isolate the best single sperm we can find, looking at factors such as its shape and movement. It’s a very intricate process performed microscopically.
What are the success rates for ICSI?
ICSI is a very effective treatment for male infertility – it’s what it was designed for. Around a third of patients undergoing ICSI successfully have a baby with us.
Can ICSI help if my partner has a problem with her fertility too?
We often help couples where both partners have fertility problems. ICSI would be used if sperm disorders are a contributing factor for your fertility issues. So if your partner has fallopian tube blockages, scarring or adhesions, and you have a low sperm count for instance.
If there’s no sperm disorder involved, then IVF may be recommended instead.
We’ll always advise the best treatment that enables you to have a baby, taking into account your individual fertility problems, test results and diagnosis.
Male fertility support
Needing help to conceive as a man is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Sperm problems are a lot more common than you’d think, around a third of infertility cases are caused by male factor infertility. It’s just that men aren’t as good at openly talking about fertility issues.
At Manchester Fertility our years of experience in helping infertile men means we understand the significant emotional impact it can have on you and your partner.
We’re here to help you both every step of the way, providing tailored support including professional counselling, so you feel confident, positive and reassured and can look forward to having your family.
Male fertility investigations and treatment: Book online
If you’re worried about your fertility, book in for a private evaluation and investigation with our male fertility specialists on 0161 300 2737 or self-refer here online and we’ll be in touch with you.
There’s no waiting list for consultations or treatments – we can see you straight away. You can also read our Guide for Men all about common male fertility problems and treatments to help.
Last updated: 9th February 2018
