Kool Image Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

	Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
	Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a method of in vitro fertilization (IVF) that is used to treat infertile couples when standard IVF techniques are not likely to be successful. ICSI is the process of injecting a single sperm cell directly into the female oocyte to assist in fertilization, this normally occurs when the male has low sperm count or sperm motility is low and fertilization is unlikely to occur naturally. This illustration shows the oocyte (egg cell) being held at the end of a micropipette, the oocyte is surrounded by cumulus cells, which are a protective layer of cells that provide nutrients to the oocyte. Credit: © (CC by-nc-nd) Maurizio De Angelis/Wellcome Images