What is the Difference Between ICSI and IVF?

If you have been married for several years and have tried to conceive naturally but have not had a positive result, your doctor may recommend Microinjection (ICSI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. In this article we tell you the difference between ICSI and IVF and when to use each.



Difference Between ICSI and IVF



Both procedures rely on completing the fertilization process in the laboratory and then injecting the egg back into the woman's uterus, a process called artificial insemination. The difference between them lies in the fertilization step. The fertilization steps for each consist of;


• Suppression of the woman's natural menstrual cycle, the menstrual cycle is prevented by medications prescribed by the doctor.
• Increasing egg production, medication is used to stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than normal.
• Monitoring the progress and maturity of the egg, ultrasound examination is done to check the development of the eggs and some medications are used to help them mature.
• Egg collection: A needle is inserted into the ovaries through the vagina to collect the eggs.
• Fertilization of eggs
• In IVF:Healthy sperm and mature eggs are mixed and incubated overnight.
• In ICSI: Healthy sperm are injected directly into each mature egg.
• Embryo transfer: One or more fertilized eggs (embryos) are placed in the uterus.

Once the embryo is transferred to your uterus, you will need to wait two weeks before taking a pregnancy test to see if the treatment is working. Below we explain when to resort to ICSI and when to resort to IVF.



When to Use Microscopic Injection?




ICSI may be recommended if there is reason to suspect that fertilization may be difficult to achieve. It is often used in couples who are delaying having children as a result of infertility factors in the husband. Factors for male infertility may include any of the following:


• Low sperm count
• Poor sperm movement
• Poor sperm quality
• Sperm lacking the ability to penetrate an egg
• Azoospermia is a condition in which no sperm is released from a man during ejaculation.


There are two types of azoospermia: obstructive and non-obstructive.


Obstructive azoospermia: May occur due to previous removal of the vas deferens (vasdeferens), congenital absence of the vasdeferens, scarring from a previous infection.

Non-obstructive azoospermia: It occurs as a result of a defect in the testicle that cannot produce sperm.
The chance of obtaining usable sperm is low in azoospermia.



When to Apply for IVF?



Because of the high cost of IVF and the steps and preparations involved, couples often try other fertility treatments first, such as fertility drugs or intrauterine insemination.
Infertility problems for which IVF may be necessary include:


• Blockage or damage to the fallopian tubes
• Decreased ovarian function
• Scar on the uterine lining
• Uterine fibroids
• Male infertility such as low sperm count or abnormalities
• Decreased fertility in women over the age of forty
• Unexplained infertility


Couples may also choose IVF if they have a risk of passing a genetic disorder to their children. A medical laboratory can test the embryos for genetic abnormalities. The doctor then implants the embryos only if there are no genetic defects.

In conclusion, after learning the difference between ICSI and IVF, you should know that apart from the financial cost that the IVF process entails, there is also a psychological cost. As with any other procedure, the outcome can be success or failure. In order to accept the negative outcome of IVF, you must be psychologically prepared and receive adequate support from your partner and family.