Are IVF and ICSI the same?

Are IVF and ICSI the same?

We often have many patients come to our clinic who find it hard to differentiate between “IVF” and “ICSI”. So many acronyms, scientific terms, forms to sign, and all this information piled on top of an emotionally charged rollercoaster that lies ahead of them.

Firstly, it is important to understand that with fertility treatment, one size does not fit all. Some patients may require minimal intervention to help them fall pregnant, others may require extensive testing and more invasive procedures. Some patients may need one, and others may need the other. So what’s the difference?

The difference between IVF and ICSI

IVF stands for “In-Vitro Fertilisation”, which essentially means the joining of an egg and a sperm in a laboratory dish or outside the body. In-Vitro is a Latin term which means “in glass”, because the experiments were initially carried out in glass petri dishes or beakers.

ICSI stands for “Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection”, which consists of an embryologist injecting the sperm into the actual egg.

Both procedures are safe and highly effective, however as there is no “one size fits all” in the world of fertility treatment, one method may be necessary for some and unnecessary for others.

The most famous IVF baby in the world, Louise Brown was conceived using the IVF technique, and since her birth in 1978, over 8 million babies have been born as a result of this technique.

The process usually involves simply adding a carefully prepared sperm sample to a dish containing the patient’s eggs and allowing them to fertilise “naturally” in the petri dish.The world’s first ICSI baby was born in 1992 and since then, millions of healthy babies have come into the world.

Although ICSI is a more invasive procedure than simple IVF, it is a technique that is necessary when we find patients have poor sperm samples, the sperm sample is frozen, if the sperm and the egg have trouble meeting, or on some occasions the egg fertilises abnormally. ICSI is also more effective when male patients have higher DNA fragmentation as it allows the embryologist to pick and choose the sperm to inject into the egg. Find more information about our IVF treatment options.

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FAQs about improving natural fertility

Will stress affect my ability to get pregnant?

Yes, chronic stress can impact fertility by disrupting hormonal balance and ovulation patterns. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices may help optimise your chances of conception. Consider speaking with a counsellor if stress feels overwhelming.

How does my partner's health affect our fertility?

Sperm health accounts for about 40% of conception challenges. Your partner can improve sperm health by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding excessive heat exposure (hot tubs, saunas, tight clothing), limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, managing stress, and taking a multivitamin with antioxidants. Sperm takes about 3 months to develop, so lifestyle changes need time to show results.

When during my cycle am I most fertile?

Your fertile window typically spans 5-6 days, ending on ovulation day. For a regular 28-day cycle, this usually falls between days 10-15, with peak fertility 1-2 days before ovulation. Track your cycle using ovulation predictor kits, basal body temperature, or cervical mucus changes to identify your unique pattern. Having intercourse every 1-2 days during this window optimises your chances.