Thoughts on the popularity of ICSI

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology and Medicine
• Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

Background:

• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become the dominant assisted reproductive technique (ART) worldwide.
• Its development stems from early micromanipulation and assisted fertilization attempts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development of ICSI.
• To discuss current indications for ICSI, including male and non-male factor infertility.
• To explore potential future applications of ICSI in reproductive advancements.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on ICSI's development, indications, and current use.
• Exploration of specific indications: sperm structural abnormalities, genetic factors, surgically retrieved sperm, sperm chromatin fragmentation, oocyte dysmorphism, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT).
• Consideration of future applications like in vitro spermatogenesis and genome editing.

Main Results:

• ICSI's inception is traced through early micromanipulation techniques.
• Current indications encompass a range of male infertility factors and extend to non-male factors, though the latter remains debated.
• Future applications in advanced reproductive technologies are identified.

Conclusions:

• ICSI's widespread adoption is attributed to its versatility, consistency, and reliability.
• It remains the most prevalent ART procedure globally.