What is the difference between IVF and ICSI?

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) Explained

IVF, or in vitro fertilization, refers to an assisted reproductive technology in which fertilization of extracted eggs by sperm is done outside the body. Both eggs and sperm are placed in a lab dish, which allows the sperm to home in on and penetrate the eggs, similar to natural fertilization. The fertilization occurs overnight, and the resulting embryos are further nurtured in an incubator for 3-5 days. Doctors select the most viable and promising ones to transfer them back to the mother’s womb.

ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) Explained

ICSI, also known as intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, is the injection of a single live sperm into the egg instead of natural sperm penetration. It is the form of IVF treatment recommended for male-factor infertility treatment.

Here’s the difference between the two:

Feature	ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection)	IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
Sperm Count Required	Only a small number of sperm are needed.	A larger number of sperm are required.
Fertilization Method	A single sperm is manually injected into the middle of the egg.	Both the sperm and eggs are placed in a dish so that they can join together naturally.
Sperm Entry	ICSI helps the sperm get into the egg (direct injection).	Sperm must get into the eggs on their own (natural penetration).
Primary Indication	Best method for treating male infertility.	Technique used to address male and female infertility.
Usage Context	Used to get better results in pregnancy, especially with known male factors.	Used when all the first-line treatments for infertility have failed.
Cost	ICSI is a more expensive method than IVF.	IVF is generally a less expensive method than ICSI.