ICSI treatment in Goa: how it works and who needs it
Medically reviewed by our consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (MBBS, MS OBG). Last reviewed: 27 September 2026.
In ICSI, a single chosen sperm is injected straight into each mature egg in our IVF laboratory, so fertilisation does not depend on large numbers of sperm. It is planned mainly for a low sperm count, and also when a previous IVF attempt gave poor fertilisation. For ICSI treatment in Goa, the wife has the usual IVF steps.
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This is one of the most common situations in a fertility clinic: the wife's tests are all normal, but the husband's semen report shows a low count. In this video, our doctor explains how such a couple is assessed and treated, and why IVF with ICSI is so often the answer. For the wider picture, see male infertility explained and male infertility treatment in Goa.
Pai Hospital is registered as a Level 2 ART clinic under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Reg. No. GA/AC/2022/12689/L2/South Goa/02, valid to 14 January 2030).
What ICSI is, and how IVF with ICSI works
ICSI stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. It is done in the IVF laboratory on the day of egg collection:
- The embryologist gently removes the cells around each egg and checks which eggs are mature. Only mature eggs can be injected.
- Under a high-power microscope, a healthy-looking, moving sperm is chosen and picked up in a very fine glass needle.
- The sperm is placed directly inside the egg.
- The next day, the eggs are checked to see which have fertilised, and the embryos are then grown for a few more days.
Because ICSI needs only one good sperm for each egg, it helps even when the count is very low.
Why a low count makes conception difficult
In natural conception, very large numbers of sperm set out, and only a few reach the egg. When the count is low, or the sperm do not move well, too few complete the journey. IUI helps by placing prepared sperm inside the womb, but it still needs a fair number of active sperm after preparation. Standard IVF needs many active sperm around each egg in the dish. When there are not enough for either, ICSI for a low sperm count gets round this: one sperm is placed directly into each mature egg.
If you are still deciding between the two routes, read low sperm count: IUI or IVF? Our page on low sperm count treatment in Goa sets out every step, from the simplest option up to ICSI.
Who needs ICSI besides a low sperm count?
A low count is the commonest reason, but not the only one. The doctor may also plan ICSI in these situations:
- Eggs did not fertilise well last time. If most of the eggs stayed unfertilised in a previous IVF attempt, even with a normal-looking semen report, the next attempt is usually planned with ICSI.
- A sample frozen in advance. Some men store sperm before chemotherapy; others freeze a sample before leaving to work on a ship or abroad. Fewer sperm move once thawed, so injecting one into each egg gets the best use from a small sample.
- No sperm in the semen. For a man whose semen report shows no sperm (azoospermia), a small operation called micro-TESE may find sperm in the testicular tissue; it is done in the hospital's own operating theatre. It yields very few sperm, too few to mix with the eggs, so each one is injected.
- A low egg reserve. When only a few eggs are expected, the doctor may suggest ICSI so that no mature egg is lost to a fertilisation failure. Its benefit here is not proven, so the choice is talked through with you first.
ICSI is not used for every couple. If the husband's tests are normal and no earlier attempt failed to fertilise, the eggs are simply mixed with prepared sperm, as in standard IVF. Whether ICSI is planned for you, and why, is explained at the consultation before your cycle begins.
What the husband goes through
Before treatment, the semen analysis is repeated, because counts vary from one test to another. Hormone tests and an examination look for a treatable cause, such as a varicocele. When the count is very low, a genetic blood test may be suggested, since some causes run in families. Healthy changes, such as stopping smoking, cutting down alcohol, avoiding heat and reaching a healthy weight, are worth starting early, because sperm take two to three months to form.
On the day of egg collection, he gives a fresh sample after the advised gap. If producing a sample on the day may be difficult, one can often be frozen in advance as a backup; read about sperm freezing in Goa. When sperm are extremely few, or absent from the semen, they may be retrieved directly from the testis; see azoospermia: causes and treatment.
What the wife goes through
Even though her tests are normal, the treatment happens in her body. She has hormone injections for around ten to twelve days to help several eggs grow, with scans and blood tests to follow them. When the eggs are ready, a trigger injection prepares them, and the egg collection is done under light anaesthesia as a day procedure.
Because healthy ovaries can respond strongly, the medicines are set carefully and the response is watched closely to avoid over-stimulation. The embryo is usually transferred at the blastocyst stage, around the fifth day, and good extra embryos are frozen. The pregnancy test follows about two weeks later. The full sequence is explained in how IVF works, step by step.
The egg-collection day, for the couple
It is a long day, but not a hard one. The wife has her egg collection and rests afterwards. The husband gives his sample, which the laboratory prepares. A few hours later, the embryologist performs ICSI on the mature eggs. You go home the same day, and the next day you are told how many eggs have fertilised.
Is ICSI safe?
ICSI has been used around the world for many years and is a routine part of IVF laboratories today. The injection is done with great care, though an occasional egg may not survive it. Because some causes of a very low count can be inherited, a genetic test for the husband is sometimes advised before treatment. The doctor discusses this with you, so that you decide with full information.
What ICSI cannot do
ICSI solves the problem of sperm reaching and entering the egg. It cannot improve egg quality, and not every injected egg fertilises or grows into a good embryo. That is why the doctor explains the results at each step, rather than promising an outcome at the start.
A shorter explanation
Watch on YouTube if the player does not load.
In this second video, our doctor explains IVF with ICSI for a low sperm count more briefly, which may help as a quick recap before your consultation.
Where treatment happens
This guide is by the Pai Hospital Team. Pai Hospital in Goa has its own operating theatre and its own IVF laboratory, so the egg collection, the sperm preparation and the ICSI all happen under one roof, on the same day. Read about our IVF centre in Goa. Patient transport at zero cost to the patient is available from across Goa.
How much is IVF with ICSI at Pai Hospital?
IVF with ICSI is ₹2,10,000 for one full cycle. Here is the full fee list, with what each fee covers:
| Treatment | Fee | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| IVF, one full cycle | ₹1,60,000 | The egg-growing injections, egg collection, theatre and anaesthesia, hospital stay, doctor, laboratory and embryology fees, blastocyst culture and up to six months of embryo freezing |
| IVF with ICSI, one full cycle | ₹2,10,000 | ICSI means a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. What this fee covers is explained to you in writing before you start |
| Frozen embryo transfer (FET) | ₹40,000 | Thawing the embryo and transferring the blastocyst. Medicines and scans for the FET cycle are explained, with their cost, at the consultation |
| IUI, one cycle | ₹25,000 | One IUI cycle. If your treatment needs extra medicines or scans, we explain them and their cost at the consultation, before you start |
Price list: October 2026. Surgical sperm retrieval (micro-TESE), when it is needed, is not in these fees and is quoted to you in writing before you start.
Getting started
Send both partners' reports to us on WhatsApp at +91 95185 02773, with any questions you have. Consultations are by appointment, so please call our reception on +91 95459 20817 to book. Please come together as a couple. Ask us and we will explain each fee, and what it covers, before you start; the fees are listed on IVF cost in Goa. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.
Your questions
What is the difference between IVF and ICSI?
In standard IVF, each egg is placed with many prepared sperm and fertilisation happens on its own. In ICSI, the embryologist injects one selected sperm into each mature egg. ICSI is a step within an IVF cycle, used when the sperm are too few or too weak to fertilise the eggs on their own.
Does the wife need injections if only the husband has a problem?
Yes. The eggs still have to be grown and collected, so she goes through the IVF injections, scans and egg collection. Because her ovaries are healthy, the medicines are adjusted carefully and her response is watched closely to keep her safe.
Can a low sperm count improve before IVF?
Sometimes, especially when a cause such as a varicocele or a hormone problem is treated, or when smoking, alcohol, heat and extra weight are addressed. Sperm take two to three months to form, so changes show on a later test. Planning for IVF and improving the sperm can run side by side.
What if the husband cannot give a sample on the day?
Tell us in advance. A sample can often be frozen beforehand as a backup. When sperm are extremely few or absent, they may be retrieved directly from the testis in a short procedure and used for ICSI.
How long does the whole treatment take?
From the start of the injections to the pregnancy test usually takes about a month when the embryo is transferred fresh, and longer when it is frozen and transferred in a later cycle. The tests and planning beforehand add a few weeks. The doctor gives you a clear calendar before you begin.
Is there a minimum sperm count for IVF with ICSI?
ICSI needs only one good sperm for each mature egg, so it can help even when the count is very low. Standard IVF without ICSI needs many active sperm around each egg. When sperm are extremely few or absent, they may be retrieved directly from the testis.
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This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.