Both Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are infertility procedures that use assisted reproductive technology (ART). ICSI differs from IVF in using a selected sperm cell to inject an egg. In IVF, multiple sperms are combined with the retrieved eggs. Hence, IVF is often performed with ICSI to improve the success rate of fertilization. ICSI helps in pregnancy in 70% of the cases with male infertility factors or failure of an earlier IVF procedure. Here is everything you need to know about how ICSI differs from IVF.
How Is IVF Performed?
During in vitro fertilization, the eggs retrieved from a woman’s ovaries are combined with a sperm in a culture medium in a lab petri dish. The sperm has to enter an egg by itself. If fertilization happens, the embryos develop in an incubator. After about 5 days, the embryologist monitors and chooses the best embryos for transfer to the woman’s womb.
How Is ICSI Performed?
During intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the embryologist injects a chosen sperm with a thin glass needle directly into the cytoplasm of an egg. After the egg is fertilized, the embryo is transferred to the woman’s womb. There are leading ICSI centers in Bangalore with a high pregnancy success rate.
When Do You Need IVF?
IVF may be recommended when conventional methods like injectable medications and Clomid or infertility procedures like Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) fail. It can also be performed if you have:
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Cervical mucus conditions
- Uterine conditions
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disorder
- Ovulatory dysfunction
- An absence, blockage or disease of the fallopian tubes
- Male infertility conditions
- Unexplained infertility
When Do You Need ICSI?
If you failed to conceive with IVF previously, ICSI may be recommended. Besides, ICSI can benefit candidates with male infertility problems like:
- Low sperm count
- Poor sperm mobility
- Major sperm DNA damage
- Frozen sperms
- Sperms collected directly with electro-ejaculation or TESA (from testicles) or PESA (from the epididymis) or from urine
- Semen containing high antibody levels
Pros and Cons of IVF
IVF is as helpful as ICSI when there are no factors of male infertility. IVF can offer up to 70% success of fertilization.
However, IVF is not suitable for male infertility conditions. In that case, ICSI may be preferred. Besides, IVF may have the following general disadvantages:
- Unknown risks to the egg or embryo
- Multiple births
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
- Birth defects
- Miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy
Pros and Cons of ICSI
ICSI offers the following benefits over IVF:
- Better-quality embryos are produced.
- It doesn’t retrieve eggs for fertilization when the semen parameters are not satisfactory.
- It helps in fertilization when the same may not happen under regular insemination protocols.
- It offers 50-80% success of fertilization, provided a reputed ICSI clinic in Bangalore is chosen for pregnancy.
If you undergo IVF with ICSI, the chances of multiple births are higher. Besides, ICSI may have the following general consequences:
- Degeneration of or unknown risks to the egg
- Damage or unknown risks to the embryo
- Birth defects
If you wish to receive ICSI in Bangalore, discuss the procedure elaborately with your infertility specialist beforehand.