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PIEZO-ICSI: The ‘Soft Touch’ IVF Technology Helping You Conceive
Making the decision to undergo fertility treatment is a major step. At Monash IVF Singapore, we walk alongside you with advanced technology, world-class scientific standards, and a deeply compassionate approach.
What is PIEZO-ICSI?
To understand the PIEZO-ICSI breakthrough, it helps to understand how the process of egg fertilization has evolved:
- Conventional IVF Insemination: Sperm and eggs are placed together in a petri dish, allowing the “best” sperm to fertilize the egg naturally.
- Conventional ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): Introduced in 1992 to treat male-factor infertility. An embryologist uses a sharp, spiked micropipette to puncture the egg’s outer shell (the zona pellucida) and stretch its inner membrane. Suction is then applied to break the membrane and inject a single sperm.
- PIEZO-ICSI (The “Soft Touch” Method): Originally developed in Japan in the 1990s and successfully used in human IVF in 1996, this technique replaces the harsh suction and sharp needle with a flat, blunt-ended micropipette.
Using a specialized Piezoelectric driver, the blunt needle emits ultra-fast, submicron forward micro-vibrations to gently glide through the egg’s protective layers. This eliminates the need to stretch or pull the egg’s membrane with negative suction pressure, providing a much gentler, minimally invasive entry.
How PIEZO-ICSI Works: Step-by-Step
1. Advanced Equipment Setup
A specialized Piezoelectric (PMM) driver is attached directly to the microscope’s injection pipette holder and connected to an ultra-precise control unit.
2. Micro-Drilling the Shell
The blunt-tip micropipette containing the selected sperm approaches the egg. The Piezo element expands and contracts rapidly, executing a microscopic, high-speed drilling motion to slide through the zona pellucida (outer shell) without tearing it.
3. Gentle Membrane Puncture
Once inside the egg’s outer boundary, a single, gentle Piezo pulse creates a tiny, clean opening in the delicate inner oocyte membrane. The sperm is safely deposited, and the pipette is cleanly withdrawn.
Clinical Benefits: Why We Recommend It
For many couples, conventional ICSI works beautifully. However, some eggs are highly sensitive to the physical pressure of a sharp needle. Peer-reviewed studies published by our own scientific teams at Monash IVF demonstrate that PIEZO-ICSI offers significant clinical advantages:
- Higher Fertilization Rates: Multi-center and prospective cohort studies show a notable increase in successfully fertilized eggs compared to conventional ICSI. In a recent trial, the fertilization rate rose to 71.6% with PIEZO-ICSI, compared to 65.6% using the conventional method.
- Decreased Egg Damage (Degeneration): Because the cell membrane is not subjected to negative suction pressure, the rate of egg degeneration post-injection is significantly lower.
- More High-Quality Embryos: Improved fertilization means a greater number of viable, high-quality embryos available for transfer or freezing, boosting your cumulative pregnancy success rates.
- Proven Safety Profile: Follow-up studies of children born using this technology have shown no increase in abnormalities.
Who Benefits Most from PIEZO-ICSI?
While conventional ICSI is highly effective for many patients, our fertility specialists may recommend the PIEZO-ICSI technique if you match any of the following clinical indicators:
| Patient Profile / Clinical Indicator | Why PIEZO-ICSI Helps |
| Advanced Maternal Age (>38 years) | Eggs tend to have fragile, delicate membranes that are easily damaged by standard needles. |
| High Post-ICSI Egg Damage (>15%) | Prevents egg loss during the injection phase by eliminating high-pressure suction. |
| Low Past Fertilization (20% – 50%) | Aids struggling eggs to accept the sperm safely, improving initial fertilization rates. |
| Low Embryo Utilization Rate (<20%) | Helps generate more viable embryos to select from for your transfer. |
| Low Egg Yield / Past IVF Failures | Maximizes the potential of every single retrieved egg when numbers are limited. |
Get Clarity on Fertility
Sometimes patients don’t know where to start and what questions to ask, and that’s perfectly ok. Ask us anything; we’re here to help and to navigate you through your next steps.
– Monash IVF Embryology team
Get your top IVF questions answered by our Embryologists. Schedule a free, 15-minute chat over the phone/zoom/in-person , our fertility team will answer any questions you may have.
Scientific References and Publications
Our clinical protocols are built on pioneering research led by scientists within the Monash IVF Group:
- Zander-Fox, D., et al. (2021). PIEZO-ICSI increases fertilization rates compared with standard ICSI: a prospective cohort study. Reproductive BioMedicine Online (RBMO).
- Caddy, M., et al. (2022). PIEZO-ICSI increases fertilization rates compared with conventional ICSI in patients with poor prognosis. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.
- The Straits Times (2024): Gentler approach to IVF, specialised care: How fertility clinic is helping couples who are trying to conceive
- Zander-Fox, D., et al. (2024). Improved fertilization, degeneration, and embryo quality rates with PIEZO-intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared with conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a sibling oocyte split multicenter trial. Fertility and Sterility.
- ResearchGate#169 : The Use of PIEZO-ICSI Increases Fertilisation and Lowers Degeneration Rates when Compared to Conventional ICSI: In a Singapore Setting
- SinChew Daily (2026): National Infertility Awareness week 2026
