When it comes to infertility treatment, there is a wide range of questions that general people, such as yourself, have. Some of these questions have an easy answer, while it takes a bit more insight into specifics to answer the questions in detail. One such question that does not have a simple answer is: Does ICSI increase your IVF success rate? Well, if you have this question, then this blog is meant for you.
In this blog, we discuss various aspects of ICSI including when you should consider ICSI, how it is different from IVF, if it increases the success rate of IVF or not, and how it impacts the IVF success rate. In addition to this, we shall also provide you with some more additional information on if the IVFand ICSI babies are healthy or not, and ICSI treatment cost in Nepal. So, keeping this in mind, let’s get started!
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, or ICSI for short, is an advanced fertility treatment used in the process of In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF for short. In this process, a single sperm is directly injected into an egg to facilitate fertilization. Needless to say, this technique is highly helpful for anyone who is dealing with male infertility issues such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or even abnormal sperm shape. Although the specific process of ICSI changes based on the situation, the following is a general process:
As you may have seen from this, ICSI is essentially the process where a single healthy sperm is directly injected into an egg to fertilize it before transferring it into the uterus, and it is used as a part of the IVF.
When talking about ICSI, just knowing the definition is not enough, you should also have a general idea regarding when you should consider using ICSI. So, when should you consider ICSI? Well, you should consider ICSI if you or your partner has fertility issues associated with sperm quality or other forms of specific conditions. Some of the key situations where you should consider ICSI include:
So, at this point you are aware of what an ICSI is and the conditions where you should use them. Now, let’s cover one of the major questions that you may have regarding the ICSI - how is it different from IVF? Well, as explained previously, ICSI is an advanced treatment used during IVF, which changes the way eggs are fertilized, and therefore, they are extremely different. But just to make things a bit clearer, the key differences between IVF and ICSI are as follows:
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Following is a tabular representation of these differences:
|
Factor |
IVF |
ICSI |
|
1. Fertilization Process |
Sperm and eggs are placed together, allowing natural fertilization. |
A single sperm is directly injected into the egg using a thin needle. |
|
2. When It Is Used |
For couples with normal sperm parameters or unexplained infertility. |
For severe male infertility, previous IVF failures, or specific medical conditions. |
|
3. Sperm Quality Requirements |
Requires a higher number of healthy and motile sperm. |
Requires only one healthy, good-quality sperm per egg. |
|
4. Cost and Complexity |
Less complex and typically more affordable (NPR 2,50,000 at Hardik). |
More complex and slightly more expensive (NPR 3,50,000 at Hardik). |
|
5. Risk of Genetic Issues |
Natural sperm selection reduces the risk of genetic disorders. |
Bypasses natural selection; PGT may be needed to check for genetic conditions. |
|
6. Use with Frozen Eggs |
Less effective due to egg hardening after freezing. |
More effective, as sperm is injected directly into the egg. |
At this point, it should be plenty clear that IVF and ICSI are not the same. But you also have to note that although they are not the same, they are closely linked, and ICSI is, as mentioned previously, an advanced process that is often used alongside IVF. So implementing ICSI procedures during IVF can have a change in the success rate. But does ICSI increase your IVF success rates? Well, the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. It does increase the success rate in some cases, but it does not do much in other cases. Following are some of the key circumstances when ICSI does improve success rate.
Now, do note that ICSI cannot improve IVF success rate if there are other issues, such as poor egg quality, uterine health, and embryo development.
That said, in general, ICSI does increase the success rate by around 20% under ideal circumstances. So, while ICSI does not always increase the IVF success rate when it does, the increase is a good one.
Does ICSI increase the success rate? In general, yes, it does. But do you know how it does it? Well, this is exactly what we shall discuss in this part of the blog. While the exact reasons are a bit complicated for a layperson, we have listed out some of the key ways in which ICSI impacts IVF success rate in general terms below.
One of the key ways on how ICSI impacts IVF success rate is by increasing it. As mentioned previously, in the ICSI process, a single sperm is injected into the egg, which, in essence, bypasses the need for natural sperm penetration. This increases the likelihood of fertilization by an average of 20% and, as mentioned previously, is beneficial in a wide range of cases.
Besides increasing the success rate of IVF, ICSI also improves embryo development as, in this process, only the healthiest sperm is selected, even if the average quality of sperm is poor. Through this process, ICSI essentially improves the chances of a healthy embryo. However, you do have to note that the overall embryo quality depends on both egg and sperm quality. So, if the egg is not healthy, the increase in embryo quality would only be minor. Regardless of this, we cannot deny the fact that ICSI does indeed improve the quality of embryos.
Now, since ICSI impacts the fertilization success rates, it goes without saying that it also impacts the pregnancy and live birth rates as well. However, the effect here is a little varied. If the key reason for infertility is the male factor, then it can only improve pregnancy rates by an average of 5% to 10% when compared to standard forms of IVF. However, if the sperm quality is normal, the effect of ICSI on the live birth rate is not as obvious as during such cases; multiple factors may be in play, including egg quality, uterine health, and embryo implantation.
As you may have guessed by this point, ICSI is the most effective treatment for severe male factor infertility. This includes conditions such as low sperm count (oligospermia), poor motility (asthenospermia), abnormal morphology (teratospermia), or cases requiring surgical sperm retrieval (azoospermia). During these circumstances, normal IVF can fail due to insufficient sperm quality, making ICSI one of the best, if not the best, options for achieving fertilization and improving the chances of successful pregnancy.
Previously we talked about how ICSI impacts the success rate and even provided you with a general estimation regarding how much it increases the success rate of IVF. But do you know the exact success rate of IVF and ICSI in Nepal? Okay, if you wish to learn about the success rates, then you've reached the correct destination.
The precise success rate of IVF depends on a series of factors such as your reproductive health, sperm and egg quality, etc.With that said, the overall success rate of IVF in Nepal is 70% to 80%. Now remember, this is the mean success rate assuming that all went just perfectly, and your own success rate may be higher or lower depending on the treatment received and your case.
Also Read: Is IVF a 100% Successful Treatment Process?
Similarly, ICSI success would also depend on several factors such as egg quality, health of the uterus, as well as reproductive health of the couple. Considering this fact, the average success rate of ICSI in Nepal lies between 70% to 85%. While this may not seem all that high in comparison to the IVF success rate, you do have to note that ICSI is typically used under more extreme cases when compared to IVF, such as severe male factor infertility.
While the success rates of both IVF and ICSI are somewhat similar in the Nepalese context, you do have to note that when both of them are combined and used in ideal circumstances, the success rate of IVF can be increased drastically.
So IVF and ICSI do indeed have high chances of successful pregnancy, but they are human interventions in the natural process of fertilization. So, are IVF and ICSI babies healthy? First of all, you need to understand that although both IVF and ICSI are Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART), these procedures are designed to enhance success rates and counter the natural blockages in the natural fertilization process. Therefore, IVF and ICSi, combined, do not harm the babies at all. Rather, if IVF and ICSI are performed in the proper manner, they benefit the health of the babies because, in this treatment, the best sperm and eggs are utilized, which reduces the risk of genetic diseases and other types of health issues.
It should also be noted that fertility clinics also take rigorous precautions and follow the best practices to ensure safe and healthy outcomes.
Learn More: How Healthy are IVF Babies Mentally and Physically
Another key aspect of ICSI treatment, which we shall discuss here, is regarding the ICSI treatment cost in Nepal. Now, just keep in mind that the price actually differs with the specifics of your case and whether or not you are in need of any other services. The price also differs with the technology used, the drug used and the experience of the professional too. Still, on an average, IVF treatment in Nepal starts at a very reasonable price of Npr 3,50,000.
Do keep in mind that if ICSI is required as part of the process, the cost will be slightly more with more laboratory procedures added. The cost will also vary depending on the fertility clinic, the number of cycles to be performed, and any supplementary treatments such as embryo freezing or genetic testing. It is always advisable to speak with a fertility specialist to have an estimate of the cost depending on your own medical needs.
Now, if you are an individual who has reached this far, you must be thinking where you can get the best consultation and treatment for IVF and ICSI in Nepal. Well, out of a great number of IVF centers in Nepal, Hardik IVF and Fertility Center is one of the best options you have. But why Hardik? Some of the key reasons why you must Hardik for IVF and ICSI are:
IVF and ICSI are two treatments for fertility that are deeply associated with one another. In fact, implementing ICSI with IVF procedures can improve the success rate of IVF. However, you do have to note that ICSI is different from IVF and there are many factors behind this treatment affecting the success rate of IVF.
In this blog, we provide you with a brief overview of ICSI and how it affects the success rates of IVF. Furthermore, we also provided you with the answer to the question, “Does ICSI increase your IVF success rates?” We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into the various aspects of ICSI and IVF, check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the best ICSI and IVF service in Nepal, look no further than Hardik IVF and Fertility Center.
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ICSI guarantees fertilization by directly injecting sperm into the egg, so it's a great option when sperm quality is not good. It can also be employed in couples who have failed IVF earlier. Overall, it increases the chances of successful fertilization in challenging cases.
ICSI is intended mainly to rectify poor-quality sperm, but not egg quality. However, it can even be used in cases where the eggs are not easily fertilized naturally, while egg health helps a lot as well. Hence, while ICSI may facilitate, egg quality still matters.
Yes, ICSI does increase the likelihood of fertilization because it bypasses the natural barriers and places the sperm inside the egg. This is useful especially if there are issues with sperm motility or count. It’s a reliable option for couples facing male infertility.
ICSI is typically used when there are male fertility issues like low sperm count or poor motility. It’s also the go-to method if IVF hasn’t worked in the past. ICSI ensures that fertilization happens by controlling the process more precisely.
Yes, you can get pregnant naturally after ICSI, but it depends on the cause of infertility. If male infertility was the issue, it might be possible to conceive naturally if sperm quality improves or other factors change.