We often hear the term IVF-ICSI when we refer to assisted reproductive treatments, but not all treatments are IVF and not all techniques include ICSI. Let’s try to explain the difference …
In vitro fertilization (IVF) and sperm microinjection (ICSI) are two procedures used in the laboratory to fertilize eggs. Therefore, they are more invasive procedures aimed at couples who do not achieve pregnancy spontaneously and who do not have the possibility of artificial inseminations or they have failed.
To carry out fertilization of the eggs in the laboratory, the first necessary step is to obtain the eggs from the woman’s ovaries. For this, an ovarian stimulation treatment is carried out, which allows the development of multiple follicles in the ovaries. Once the follicles have grown sufficiently, an ovarian ponction is performed, which allows the egg retrieval to take them to the laboratory and fertilize them with the sperm of the couple or a donor.
When fertilization is carried out through the injection of a sperm into each egg, we speak of fertilization through ICSI.
When fertilization is carried out by leaving the sperm in culture with the egg, so that spontaneous fertilization occurs, then we speak of IVF.
Both techniques have specific indications and little by little we will explain them.
After obtaining the embryos, they are kept in the laboratory for 3 to 5 days and then transferred to the woman’s uterus. After the embryo transfer, we will have to wait 12 to 14 days for the pregnancy test to confirm whether the treatment has been successful or not.