IVF vs ICSI

[Sarah83ap]

Good morning,

I just wanted to get a feel for what people think about IVF vs ICSI...

When my partner and I first started this journey in 2017 he had low morphology and we were recommended ICSI (he was 27 and I was 35) since then with lifestyle changes and vitamins his morph has gone from 0 to 4% (which is now normal range) we fell pregnant naturally in March which sadly resulted in being ectopic. So I’m in the mindset that we worked together just not in the right place (if that makes sense) the reason I’m asking IVF vs ICSI is because my consultant wanted us to do both on my last cycle but I was reluctant. This time I’m thinking maybe the reason it hasn’t implanted before is because the right sperm didn’t get to the egg and perhaps IVF is the better choice...

This journey is so difficult isn’t it! Always wanting to make the right choice but not knowing what move to take.

So if you can either give me your views on IVF vs ICSI or if you’ve had experience with both I’d appreciate your comments xx

[Ivfabroad]

Hi Sarah

I just had ivf with icsi in Greece .

This was recommended by my Clinc for a better chance for it to work . It is slightly expensive but definitely worth it because the IVF journey itself is so emotional especially if it doesn’t work . So better to go for treatment which gives you that extra chance .

My husband sperm was fine but me being 35 my eggs quality wasn’t too good .

Good luck

[Lots8788]

Hello

We had always planned to do IVF (hubbys sperm was low count and low motility and morphology but then the last sample before the cycle it had improved) but on the day of egg collection, it was low again so we were strongly advised to do ICSI. We asked whether it was worth doing half and half from the 15 eggs, they said we can but were worried less would fertilise and so recommended ICSI. We trusted their advice and ended up with 6 blastos. it's hard to tell whether it was the ICSI or not but I am so glad we went with that in the end.

Good luck xx

[Hidden]

I think the best idea is to decide on the day like Lots said. That’s what we do each time. A couple of rounds we have done ivf only or icsi only but our most successful round so far we did half and half - the round we did that the icsi embryos were better quality.

We always decide on the day at least that way you are a) dealing with the very latest situation and b) adhering to the advice of the embryologists on the day

Good luck xx

[KiboXX]

Agree with the other posters, I would definitely say let the embryologists decide on the day. Sperm quality fluctuates so much and they will definitely make the decision on the day that gives you the best chances of fertilisation.

I’m currently pregnant with an ICSI baby so they definitely can make good little beans 😊 xx

[Sarah83ap]

thanks everyone this is really helpful advice xx

[Hidden]

Hi there

My husband had issues with his sperm mainly around mobility and we were advised to do PICSI rather than IVF or ICSI. I am 40 and my husband is 41. Happily to say we have been successful on our 1st round and I’m nearly 11 weeks. We were advised PICSI which cost an additional £200 on top of our package and that as I had had 3 early miscarriages before. Although the success of PICSI is same as ICSI it does state in some studies that miscarriage rates are less. For more info on PICSI take a look at the following

hertsandessexfertility.com/...

Good luck with your journey x

[Sarah83ap]

Thank you! I’ve never heard of this so will look into it x

[Florencenightingale]

We were told we would have to have ICSI but by the time it came to the say we were eligible for IVF. We only got 4 eggs but only 1 fertilised, luckily it was a top quality embro and I'm now 15 weeks pregnant.

I've had friends who have had both IVF and ICSI. It sounds like IVF is a viable option for you now. And I'm sure research says that theres less problems with IVF compared to ICSI (not 100% on that tho). Good luck with whichever you decide. In sure your doc will advise you on the best route xx

[Mantaray75]

My clinic in Spain use ICSI as standard. I’ve had rounds of both IVF and ICSI with my own eggs with no luck. My donor round resulted in me daughter. I think it was more the eggs than whether I used ICSI or not.

[Cinderella5]

Hey Sarah, I wouldnt hesitate to have ICSI. Our NHS clinic recommended it to us due to my husbands sperm. Our clinic in Athens opts for ICSI as standard as it take the unknows of the situation.....whether the sperm will make its way to the egg or not and the best ones. It could be a risk that abnormal sperm make it to the eggs and could result in poor embryos. The embryologists are highly trained people to pick the best looking sperm. Trust in your clinic, they have your best interests at heart.xx