In early 1980, researchers from Monash IVF developed a technique for injecting sperm into mature oocyte to achieve fertilization.  This technique took many years to be perfected and over the last 10 years, it had completely revolutionized the field of IVF. Just as IVF changed the destiny of women with damaged tubes, ICSI has revolutionized the treatment of male infertility. Without it, millions of men with poor or weak sperm would never be able to father babies. With male infertility increasing worldwide, there is an increasing need to resort to ICSI to have children.

ICSI involves injection of single sperm in to an egg in order to cause fertilization. The steps involved are the same as for IVF except that in the laboratory, a single sperm is picked up with a fine needle and injected into the egg to create an embryo. This technique is useful for cases whereby the cause of infertility is due to poor quality sperm. Pregnancy rates are similar to IVF.