IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection)
IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically selected Sperm Injection) is a special type of ICSI therapy during which sperm cells are first selected under the microscope at 6,600x magnification.
By using this technology, it is possible to see structures called called vacuoles (small bubbles filled with fluid) in the heads of the sperm that would not be visible with a normal ICSI microscope.
It is thought that the cause of these vacuoles lies in damage to the DNA. At any rate, correlations between DNA strand breakage and the appearance of vacuoles in sperm heads has been demonstrated.
Sperm with large vacuoles cause lower fertility rates, poorer embryo development, and increased rates of miscarriage. Therefore, it is advantageous to identify sperm without vacuoles and to inject these into the egg cell. IMSI is a highly complex, time-intensive method that requires a high-end microscope of the newest available generation.
The Kinderwunschzentrum Berlin was certified to perform IMSI after our laboratory staff underwent intensive training.