Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is helpful for men with certain sperm defects. With ICSI, the embryologist takes a single sperm and injects it directly into an egg. A few days later the fertilized embryos are implanted into the uterus. Any remaining embryos are frozen for later use.
ICSI is most often used in cases where there is either a low sperm count, the sperm are abnormally shaped, or there is low motility. The sperm may be retrieved from ejaculate, or via a surgical procedure called Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE).
When considering the costs of the procedure, you must include estimates for any fertility drugs taken to stimulate egg production, the IVF procedure, along with the ICSI, TESE if needed, and embryo storage and freezing. Each fertility clinic will have its own pricing and packaging approaches. Prices for ICSI alone range from $2,000 to $4,000, but varies widely. Add this this the cost of IVF, monitoring, and other procedures.
Success factors drive your total cost of getting pregnant - the real cost of IVF in combination with ICSI. The fertilization rate ranges from 75% - 85%. The resulting embryos have a slightly higher pregnancy rate than normal IVF as the egg quality is often better - an couple with male infertility issues may have high quality eggs. Assuming a 25% pregnancy rate, and an average all in cost of $15,000 per cycle, the average couple might spend $60,000 out of pocket.
Do you have $60,000 lying around? Most couples don't.
Find four ways to make getting pregnant and having a baby more affordable.
