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, 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:
- In the case of ICSI, only a small number of sperm are needed. But when it comes to IVF, a larger number of sperm are required.
- In the case of ICSI, a single sperm is put into the middle of the egg. However, in IVF, both the sperm and eggs are placed in a dish so that they can join together.
- ICSI helps the sperm get into the egg. But when it comes to IVF, sperm should get into the eggs.
- ICSI is the best method for treating male infertility, whereas IVF is the technique used to address male and female infertility.
- The ICSI method is used to get better results in pregnancy. But the IVF technique is used when all the first-line treatments for infertility have failed.
- ICSI is a more expensive method than IVF.
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