IVF with ICSI Fertility Treatment

When discussing fertility treatment, many patients are aware of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), however not many have heard of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI. When undergoing IVF, an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. Embryos form and are monitored in a laboratory before hopefully inserting one (or multiple, depending on the advice of your medical team) into the uterus for implantation. In IVF with ICSI, an additional step is performed, where an individual sperm is injected directly into the egg.

IVF with ICSI is one of the fertility treatments we specialise in at Apricity, offering seven day a week support and tailored options to meet your needs, location and preferences. To find out how you can receive our additional benefits at no extra cost, please get in touch with one of our Apricity advisors through our contact page.

For more information on IVF with ICSI, the below will outline what you can expect during your IVF with ICSI treatment.

What is IVF with ICSI?

When there is an issue with a male’s sperm, eggs may not become fertilised successfully, either naturally or via IVF. ICSI has been developed to overcome this issue. Instead of leaving sperm and eggs to fertilise by themselves in a petri dish (as in IVF treatment), an embryologist chooses a single sperm and implants it directly into the egg.

What is the difference between IVF and IVF with ICSI?

It's worth noting that the differences between IVF and IVF with ICSI are all lab-based. To the patient, the procedure is the same, starting with a consultation followed by stimulation, egg collection and embryo transfer. This is why ICSI treatment is commonly referred to IVF with ICSI, ICSI being the additional step done in a lab by an embryologist, of inserting a single sperm into the egg.

Is IVF with ICSI right for me?

IVF with ICSI overcomes a host of issues related to sperm function and delivery, and IVF with ICSI treatment might be recommended if this affects you or your partner. Examples of issues that ICSI may address include:

A very low sperm count. With a healthy amount of ejaculate and sperm being released, only a tiny fraction ever make it to the uterus to potentially fertilise an egg. A significant reduction in sperm count therefore makes the likelihood of natural fertilisation very low.
Poor sperm shape or motility (ability to move). With reduced movement, there is a lower likelihood of sperm reaching their destination. This could also mean they are unable to penetrate the egg if they reach it.
Surgical sperm collection. If due to your genetics or previous surgery, sperm are unable to travel to your penis, they must be collected.
Frozen sperm. This can affect both the shape and speed of your sperm, potentially reducing the chances of successful fertilisation.
Failed IVF attempts.
Finite sperm available. Men who have undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy or lost testicular function due to disease or trauma will have to rely on any sperm previously frozen. As they are not able to produce any more sperm, using the most effective method of fertilisation is the most sensible route to take.

IVF with ICSI Procedure Step-by-Step

As to the patient, the IVF with ICSI procedure follows the same protocols as IVF. The below will give you an overview of the process involved in IVF with ICSI fertility treatment.

IVF with ICSI Treatment Stages: Pre-treatment Consultation

The first step in your IVF with ICSI treatment is a consultation with an Apricity advisor. You will have the opportunity to share your medical history and treatment preferences (such as home blood tests to avoid additional travel, counselling sessions or ultrasound scans close to your house). If IVF with ICSI sounds like the most appropriate treatment for you, we would arrange a follow up assessment at a clinic to ensure that you are physically ready to undergo the treatment. This will involve a number of tests. If you have done fertility tests at other clinics, please do let us know as there are some tests you may not need to repeat.

IVF with ICSI Treatment Stages : Stimulation

A normal IVF treatment cycle starts with a woman taking stimulation drugs to encourage follicle growth, and therefore the number of eggs available. Stimulation medications are typically given as a daily injection, just under the skin using a small needle, and can usually be done at home by the woman herself or a partner. Our app offers guidance on how to inject, and our advisors will be available for additional information and support if you are feeling apprehensive about injecting.

Your Apricity care team will be closely monitoring your hormone levels and the size and number of follicles using a combination of ultrasound scans and blood tests. When your follicles have reached optimal number and size, you are ready to arrange your egg collection. This normally happens happens between 10 and 15 days after the start of your stimulation drugs. Your Apricity care team will set an exact date and time around 2 to 3 days before egg collection and instruct you to take a trigger shot (also known as a trigger injection), approximately 36 hours before your planned egg collection time. Your Apricity advisor will be on call around the time of your trigger injection to ensure you feel supported, as it is often needs to be taken late at night.

IVF with ICSI Treatment Stages: Egg collection

The egg collection procedure is normally done under sedation or anaesthetic, and your Apricity app and advisors will guide you through how to prepare for your appointment, and how much time to take off work.

During egg collection, eggs are visualised via ultrasound and collected using a fine tube inserted to the ovaries through the vagina.

A fresh or thawed sample of either the partner’s sperm or donor sperm is then mixed with the eggs in laboratory conditions. An embryologist (a specialist in the early stages of conception and embryo development) will carefully monitor the process of the eggs becoming fertilised and developing into healthy embryos.

IVF with ICSI Treatment Stages: Embryo transfer

Your embryo transfer procedure will take place between 3 and 6 days after egg collection and depends on the quality of embryos and your medical background (maternal age, previous treatments, etc). The embryology team will make the decision based on embryological criteria to optimise your chances of pregnancy.

A healthy embryo is introduced into the womb through a fine tube inserted through the vagina. This process is much quicker than the egg collection, and most women find it comparable to having a smear test. After the embryo is implanted, your clinic will give you a date on which to do a pregnancy test – usually around two weeks later. During this wait, our advisors will do everything they can to ensure you feel supported and cared for. They will be there to discuss next steps following the pregnancy test.

Is IVF with ICSI treatment painful?

The differences between IVF and IVF with ICSI are all lab-based, and the procedures for extracting and inserting eggs are the same for both treatments. The most uncomfortable part of IVF with ICSI is this reintroduction of fertilised eggs back into the uterus, also known as egg transfer. As discussed, the embryo transfer requires a thin catheter to be passed through your cervix, which some women may find uncomfortable, just like a smear test.

Trying to become pregnant can be one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting journeys women and couples experience. At Apricity, we believe in empowering you with transparent information, support, and all the options possible to make your fertility journey a warmer experience. Call one of our advisors to get started.

+44 (0) 115 824 3928

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