Couples begin by consulting a fertility specialist who will evaluate their medical histories and fertility profiles to determine whether IMSI is a suitable option. Tests like semen analysis and hormone evaluations are performed to assess the male partner’s sperm quality and overall fertility status.

As with other ART treatments, the female partner will undergo ovarian stimulation to encourage the production of multiple eggs. Medications are administered to stimulate egg development, which is closely monitored through ultrasounds and blood tests. Once the eggs reach maturity, they are prepared for retrieval.

The eggs are retrieved from the female partner’s ovaries using a minor surgical procedure performed under sedation or anesthesia. A thin needle is used to collect the eggs from the ovarian follicles, and these are then taken to the lab for fertilization.

The defining feature of the IMSI procedure is the selection of sperm using high magnification. The sperm sample is placed under a microscope that magnifies it up to 6000 times, allowing embryologists to examine the sperm’s internal structure. Only sperm with the most normal morphology, meaning those free from defects or abnormalities, are selected for fertilization.

Once the best sperm have been selected, they are injected directly into the retrieved eggs using the ICSI technique. Fertilization is then carefully monitored in the laboratory over the next several days as the embryos develop. Embryologists keep track of embryo development to ensure that healthy, viable embryos are ready for transfer.

Once the embryos reach the appropriate developmental stage (usually 3 to 5 days), the best-quality embryo(s) are selected for transfer to the woman’s uterus. The embryo transfer is a quick and minimally invasive procedure that typically doesn’t require anesthesia.