How is ICSI different from IVF?

How is ICSI different from IVF?

ICSI and IVF are two different techniques that are used to treat infertility. ICSI is used in conjunction with IVF. There are so many similarities between ICSI and IVF procedure. In both procedures, the egg cells are artificially retrieved from the women. The fertilization happens outside the female body in both procedures. The embryo thus formed is then directly transplanted in the uterus. The major difference between ICSI and IVF is that in ICSI, a single sperm is injected into the center of the egg, while in IVF, eggs and sperms are fertilized in a petri dish. Let’s understand both the procedures in detail:

What is ICSI?

The intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a fertility treatment where single sperm is directly injected into the egg for fertilization to happen. A single sperm is picked up for fertilization using a fine glass needle.

Who is a suitable candidate for ICSI?

  1. Men with low sperm counts
  2. Men having abnormally shaped sperm with low motility
  3. Men with sperms that are high in antibodies
  4. Failed IVF cases
  5. Men whose sperms are retrieved through urine or electro-ejaculation
  6. Individuals who need testing for genetic abnormalities in their embryo

ICSI procedure

The ICSI procedure involves stimulating the ovaries with progesterone for egg formation in a fertility centre in Delhi. On the day of retrieval of the egg, sperms are also ejaculated. To inject the sperm into the egg cell, microinjection is used. The fertilized egg then develops into an embryo in two days. Using a catheter, one or two embryos are transferred to the uterus. A pregnancy test is performed after a couple of days. Usually, the success rate of the ICSI treatment procedure is 25%; however, it also depends on the age of the women.

What is IVF?

IVF is a fertility treatment in which fertilization happens outside the body. The fertilization in IVF takes place in a petri dish.

Who is a suitable candidate for IVF?

  1. Women above 40 years
  2. Women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
  3. Females with endometriosis
  4. Males with a reduced number of sperms
  5. Unexplained infertility

IVF procedure

The procedure involves stimulation of the ovaries, and the mature oocytes are collected. The fertilization of the mature eggs with the sperms takes place once the sperms are collected. The fertilized egg is then developed in a petri dish, and it is transferred into the uterus within five days. The patients are advised to take progesterone for up to 10 weeks once the embryo is transferred, as it facilitates the embryo attachment in the uterus.

ICSI and IVF are the techniques that are used to treat infertility. The fertilization in both takes place outside the female body. The main difference between the procedure lies in the method of fertilization. In ICSI, one sperm is punctured into the egg, and in IVF, both sperm and eggs are mixed in a petri dish. Additionally, ICSI treatment cost is much lower than IVF.

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