In-Vitro Fertilisation, Intrauterine Insemination, and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection are all assisted reproductive technologies which are used to address fertility issues. Still, they differ in their procedures and applications. Here is a comparison between IVF, IUI, and ICSI:
IVF procedures
In IVF, the eggs and sperm are collected from the woman and man, respectively. Fertilisation occurs outside the body in a laboratory dish. The embryos are cultured for a few days before one or more are transferred to the woman’s uterus. Some cases where the man or woman requires this treatment at the best IVF centre in Delhi include blocked fallopian tubes, severe male infertility, endometriosis, unexplained infertility, or failed IUI attempts.
Intrauterine Insemination procedures
In this fertility treatment, the sperm is processed and directly placed into the woman’s uterus around the time she starts ovulating. Timing is essential to increase the chances of sperm meeting the egg. The indications include mild male infertility, cervical mucus issues, or unexplained infertility. The success rates of IUI treatment are generally lower than IVF, and you may need to undergo multiple cycles.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection procedures
ICSI treatment is a variation of IVF where a sperm gets directly injected into an egg by the doctor. It is particularly useful when patients complain of severe male infertility or when their previous IVF cycles have failed. The indications include male factor infertility, low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or sperm morphology. This treatment can significantly improve fertilisation rates in cases of severe male factor infertility.
Comparison
1. Fertilisation processes
In IVF, fertilisation occurs outside the body. In IUI, fertilisation takes place inside the woman’s body. In ICSI, sperm is injected directly into an egg in the laboratory before being transferred for development to the womb.
2. Indications
IVF treatment received at the best IVF clinic in Delhi suits various fertility issues, including severe male-factor infertility and blocked fallopian tubes. IUI is often used for mild male-factor infertility, cervical mucus problems, or unexplained infertility cases. ICSI is specifically designed for severe male-factor infertility.
3. Success rates
IVF and ICSI usually have higher success rates than IUI. The success rates vary based on factors such as age, the doctors’ expertise, the cause of infertility, and the individual’s health. You can opt for one or a combination of fertility treatments by consulting the fertility specialist at the best IVF centre in Delhi.
4. Complexity and invasiveness
IVF is a more complex treatment and involves multiple steps, including ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation in the laboratory, and embryo transfer. IUI is less complex and invasive than IVF. ICSI is an additional step within IVF, which involves the direct insertion of sperm into eggs through injections.
5. Costs
It is essential to note that every fertility procedure involves different costs, which vary according to the city where the centre is located. The most common costs associated with them include consultations, ultrasound scans, procedures, lab and specialist charges, nursing and in-patient charges, ovum pickup, fresh transfers, and additional costs for embryo freezing, IVF medications, fertility-enhancing surgeries, freezing charges, ERA, PGT, and non-IVF medications prescribed by the fertility specialist.
In India, the cost of IVF treatment starts at around Rs. 1,83,000. However, the exact cost depends on several factors, including the treatment type, the cause of infertility, and any additional tests required. ICSI treatment can cost between Rs. 1,20,000 and Rs. 1,60,000. Each IUI treatment cycle can cost around Rs. 16,000, whereas donor programs can cost between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 60,000.
Learn more during the consultation
Every IVF centre in India understands that the decision to undergo fertility treatments is personal. The doctors understand and answer all your questions about them. You can better understand the costs associated with treatment and financial options during a consultation with fertility specialists and financial counsellors.
Before you consult them, research and read more about fertility treatments, procedures, the patients it is suitable for, the time taken to achieve pregnancy, their success rates, costs, etc.
Conclusion
You should always prefer visiting a fertility centre offering the best treatment and care at reasonable costs. The team understands your fertility needs and includes specialists, full-time embryologists, counsellors and trained fertility nurses to maximise your chances of IVF for pregnancy. The treatment costs should be transparent and explained to the patients beforehand. You can also get financing options from the IVF treatment centre if required.