After the eggs are found in the laboratory after retrieval via microscope, they are inseminated. There are two ways eggs can be inseminated:
Standard insemination
Standard insemination is most often done for patients who have normal semen analysis results that are in the fertile age range. Standard insemination involves incubating the sperm and eggs in a dish and allowing the sperm to self-select which one fertilizes the egg.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Alternatively, insemination can be done using a process called ICSI. While there are advantages to allowing sperm to self-select through standard insemination, in some cases ICSI is necessary to achieve an adequate fertilization rate.
We may recommend ICSI for couples when the number of normal motile sperm available is less than that required for standard IVF procedures. When performing ICSI, our embryologists choose the best sperm and directly inject it into the egg.
This decision about which fertilization technique is to be used will be made in conjunction with our embryologist and physician. We will provide you with a more detailed information summary and current statistics after your initial consultation.