What is the Difference Between IVF and ICSI | Indications, Success Rates
Channel: Sara Qureshi
Date: 2020-03-31

In this video we will be going over what is the difference between IVF and ICSI. The format of this video is going to be as follows:

0:36 Firstly we will go over What exactly is IVF?
1:17 Secondly what is the difference between IVF and ICSI?
2:39 Followed by what are the indications for performing IVF and what are the indications for performing ICSI?
3:48 Lastly, how do the success rates compare between IVF and ICSI?

What is IVF?
IVF stands for “in vitro fertilization”. The word “in vitro” means in glass. So essentially, fertilization that takes place outside the human body in a glass laboratory dish is called IVF or in vitro fertilisaton.

Overall the process of combining male and females gametes to form embryos in a laboratory setting is called IVF or in vitro fertilisation. Now to achieve fertilization as part of the process of IVF two techniques are used: 
1. Conventional IVF
2. ICSI  which is short for “Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.”
Now that we understand what IVF is, lets take a look at What exactly is conventional IVF ? 
Conventional IVF or classical IVF is a technique used to achieve fertilization. In conventional IVF oocytes or eggs are contained in a special dish containing special media and sperms are basically introduced to the oocytes to achieve fertilization. This process is called conventional IVF. To further simplify this, the process of introducing sperm to the egg to achieve fertilization is called conventional or classical IVF.  

So what is ICSI?
ICSI stands for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. And this is a process which makes use of a specialized equipment called a micromanipulator. So a micromanipulator allows us to select a single sperm and directly deposit it inside an egg. This is done with the help of tools such as a holding pipette which allows us to hold the oocyte in position and an injection pipette which allows the deposition of sperm  directly in the oocyte. This process is called ICSI or Intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Now that we know what is the difference between conventional IVF and ICSI lets have a look at what are the indications for performing conventional IVF and what are the indications for performing ICSI. 

When is Conventional IVF indicated?
Conventional IVF is indicated in the absence of male factor infertility meaning that the male partner has normal semen parameters. With this condition in mind conventional IVF can therefore be utilized in cases of tubal factor such as blocked fallopian tubes. In cases of unexplained infertility. In cases of endometriosis and in cases where previous attempt of taking ovulation induction proved to be unsuccessful.

When is ICSI indicated?
ICSI is indicated in cases of male factor infertility, meaning that the male partner has either low sperm count, low sperm morphology and low sperm motility. ICSI is also recommended when the sperms are retrieved surgically either through the epididymis or the testes of the male. ICSI is also the preferred method when in a previous IVF cycle using conventional IVF lead to either no fertilization or very poor fertilization. Thus, in such a case ICSI is well indicated.

How do the success rates compare between IVF and ICSI?
So by success rates I will be referring to live birth rates achieved with each method that is IVF and ICSI. So essentially the live birth rates between the two methods are comparable and there is no significant difference when it comes to live birth rates between IVF and ICSI.

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