IVF is one of the several infertility treatments available, and one of the most popular ones as well. However, standard IVF steps may not be enough for everyone who has opted for the treatment. Within the treatment, there are at least two modes of insemination available. The first is regular, conventional insemination that is allowing the natural fertilisation process in a lab setting. The second is the ICSI treatment or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
What is ICSI?
ICSI procedure involves injecting a carefully selected single sperm from the semen sample and injecting it into a single egg. This can be done for multiple eggs.
The procedure is usually recommended in the following cases:
- Unhealthy sperm
- Poor sperm motility
- Issues in sperm attaching to the egg
- Low sperm count
- Conventional insemination failure
Depending on the individual case, doctors may also recommend ICSI in cases of unexplained infertility, or any other situation where it may seem like a suitable solution.
Furthermore, ICSI may also fail due to damaged eggs. In some cases, it may achieve fertilisation, but the embryo may stop developing. If the fertilisation and embryo development is successful, the chances of a full-term pregnancy are akin to conventional insemination.
Also, Read: Success Rate Of ICSI
What is Conventional Insemination?
Regular insemination is the default choice in the IVF procedure unless conditions for its failure are noticed. This is the kind of insemination that happens naturally in the female reproductive system. As a part of IVF, it is replicated in a laboratory. The eggs are left with the sperm in a petri dish allowed to fertilise under healthy conditions. However, several health issues may cause this to fail, thus the participants seeking more ways of achieving fertilisation.
Also, Read: Things You Need to Know About ICSI
Is ICSI for you?
Your healthcare specialist can best determine if ICSI would be necessary or helpful for you. Both types of inseminations work in different cases and one cannot be claimed as uniformly better than the other. As mentioned, it is best suited for male factor infertility and failure in conventional insemination. Additionally, it may also help avoid the passing of some genetic or birth defects to the offspring.
Remember, this process adds to the cost of your IVF treatment. It is best to discuss the outcome of the treatment with your doctor.
