Part of Advanced ART & Reproductive Technologies
IMSI — Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection
Higher-magnification ICSI. The embryologist selects sperm at 6000x magnification (vs 400x in standard ICSI), choosing those with the best morphology. Used in selected refractory cases.
What IMSI Adds
IMSI uses MSOME (Motile Sperm Organelle Morphology Examination) to select sperm with the most normal-appearing morphology at the subcellular level. Evidence is mixed — modest benefit in specific subgroups (recurrent miscarriage, severe teratospermia, prior ICSI failure).
When We Use It
- Recurrent IVF/ICSI failure
- Severe teratospermia (>95% abnormal forms)
- Recurrent pregnancy loss with male factor
- High sperm DNA fragmentation
IMSI is NOT a default upgrade over ICSI. It adds time and cost without benefit in most cases. We recommend it only when specific indications are present.