Infertility used to be a huge issue in the past. However, in modern times, there are many techniques and assisted reproductive treatments that can aid you. That said, deciding to go through assisted reproductive treatment is by no means an easy process. There are many treatment-assisted reproduction treatment options available for you. Among many such treatments, two of the most popular ones are in vitro fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Unless you work closely with these treatments, they may seem the same for you. So the question is, "What is the difference between IVF and ICSI?"
In this blog, we discuss the difference between IVF and ICSI treatment. So, with this in mind, let's get started.
IVF and ICSI are both different forms of assisted reproductive treatments. This is where the key similarities between IVF and ICSI end.
The "In vitro" refers to "in glass". Therefore, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process where eggs are fertilized and developed inside a laboratory dish.
On the other hand, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a technique used in assisted reproductive treatment as a part of IVF. In this process, the experts directly inject sperm into the egg.
Although both IVF and ICSI are assisted reproductive treatments, there are some key differences between these two. From the definition mentioned above, you should already have a general idea of these two procedures. That said, besides the definition, these two have other differences. These differences are as follows:
| Difference | IVF | ICSI |
| Process | 1. Ovulation Induction 2. Egg Retrieval 3. Fertilization 4. Embryo Culture 5. Embryo Transfer 6. Luteal Phase Support |
1. Ovulation Induction 2. Egg Retrieval 3. ICSI Process 4. Embryo Culture 5. Embryo Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Success Rates | The overall success rate of IVF in Nepal is between 70% to 80%. | The overall success rate of ICSI is between 50% to 80% in Nepal. |
| Benefits | Ideal for women over 35 with low ovarian reserve and female patients with a wide range of health conditions. | Ideal for men with low sperm count or issues with sperm motility. |
| Cost | The cost of IVF in Nepal is between NPR 2,50,000 and NPR 4,00,000. | The cost of ICSI in Nepal is between NPR 3,50,000 and Npr 4,00,000. |
One of the key ICSI and IVF difference is the process involved in these procedures. The process of IVF and ICSI are as follows:
There are six key steps involved in the process of IVF. They are as follows:
In this step, the female patient is given medications to stimulate her ovaries and produce multiple eggs.
Once the eggs are mature, they are retrieved from the ovaries using a minor surgical process.
The retrieved eggs are then fertilized inside a petri dish.
After fertilizing the eggs, they are left to culture for three to five days. This process lasts three to five days, depending on the specifics of the circumstances.
After the embryo reaches a specific stage, they are transferred back into the female patient's uterus.
The reproductive expert then provides female patients with hormonal medications to support the uterine lining and increase the chances of successful implantation.
You can divide the entire process of ICSI treatment in Nepal into five key steps. The steps involved in the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) process are as follows:
In this process, the female process goes through an ovarian stimulation process. The experts provide them with medicines to produce multiple eggs.
The mature eggs are then retrieved from the female patient's ovaries using a minor surgical process.
Rather than allowing the sperm to fertilize the egg naturally, experts inject a single healthy sperm directly into the cytoplasm of the egg.
In this process, the fertilized egg is left for development into the embryo in a laboratory dish.
Once the embryos reach a particular stage, one or more healthy embryos are selected and transferred into the female patient's uterus.
These are the general processes involved in the IVF and ICSI processes. As you may have noticed, the key difference between the process of IVF and ICSI is in the fertilization state.
Another key difference between IVF and ICSI is in their success rates. While the general process and steps remain the same, the success rate is indeed different. The overall success rate of IVF in Nepal is between 70% and 80%. At the same time, the overall success rate of ICSI is between 50% to 80% in Nepal.
Now that we know the process and success rates of IVF and ICSI treatment let's talk about the key benefits of IVF and ICSI treatments. They are as follows:
As with all forms of medical procedures, both IVF and ICSI treatment also have their fair share of risks. While the benefits do outweigh the risks by several folds, we cannot ignore this aspect. Some of the key risks associated with IVF and ICSI are as follows:
Do note that the risks for both IVF and ICSI are relatively small. Regardless, we still need to consider these differences in risks in IVF and ICSI when considering these treatments.
Although the costs of both IVF and ICSI are somewhat similar, there is a slight difference. The cost of IVF in Nepal is between NPR 2,50,000 and NPR 4,00,000. On the other hand, the cost of ICSI in Nepal is between NPR 3,50,000 and Npr 4,00,000.
As you may notice, the ending price range for both of these procedures is the same. The cost difference between IVF and ICSI is in the starting cost.
There is no definitive answer to this question. Depending on the specifics of your circumstances, any one of these two options may be better for you. However, there are some general considerations you can make. These considerations are as follows:
In general, IVF is considered a general approach, while ICSI is taken as a more specific approach. If there are no male fertility issues, you should consider IVF before ICSI. However, if there is male infertility in question, then ICSI is typically considered better for you.
Both IVF and ICSI are relatively popular forms of assisted reproductive treatments. That said, there are a few key differences in their procedures. IVF is an overall process, while ICSI is considered a part of IVF. Besides the procedures, there are key differences in their benefits, risks, and costs. That said, there is no clear "better" one. Both of these treatments have their area of effect.
In this blog, we discussed the key differences between IVF and ICSI. We hope you found this helpful. If you want further insights into IVF and other fertility services, check out some of our other blogs. If you want the best IVF and ICSI treatment in Nepal, feel free to contact us at Hardik IVF and Fertility- The best IVF Center in Nepal. Thank you for reading till the end.
ICSI success rate is usually between 50% and 80% on the eggs performed. That said, the specifics can vary depending on your circumstances.
The success rates for IVF in Nepal are between 70% and 80%
ICSI has a better success rate when it comes to male infertility, while IVF has a better success rate in general.
The key difference between IVF and ICSI is IVF is a process where eggs are fertilized and developed inside a laboratory dish. Moreover, ICSI is a technique used in assisted reproductive treatment as a part of IVF.
While the end cost for IVF and ICSI are both the same, the starting price of ICSI is indeed higher than that of IVF.
Yes, you can conduct IVF without ICSI treatment.
There is no clear answer to which is better between IVF and ICSI. IVF is a better treatment in general while ICSI is relatively better for mild-male-factor infertility.
The benefits of ICSI over IVF are as follows:
No, it is not. Although ICSI has a high success rate, especially for male-factor infertility, it is not 100% successful.
There is a small risk of ICSI leading to twins. However, the chances are similar to that of regular pregnancy.