IUI vs. IVF – Which One Is Right For You?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and In vitro fertilization (IVF) are two types of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that have been used for years to facilitate pregnancy for individuals or couples who desire to build their families, but are faced with life circumstances that make it challenging to become pregnant. 

IUI and IVF are used under a variety of circumstances and in order to determine which one is best for you, it is best to first consult with a fertility specialist. Ideally, you will undergo some diagnostic testing, and depending on the results, as well as your family building goals, the specialist will review the different options for treatment with you. 

In this article we shall be discussing what happens during both intrauterine insemination as well as in vitro fertilization, and the circumstances under which they are typically used. 

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination is a fertility treatment where a person is assisted in becoming pregnant by placing sperm into their uterus during the ovulation window of their menstrual cycle. It is also known as artificial insemination and can be done using a person's natural cycle, or using some medication to enhance ovulation.

Typically during natural ovulation, only one mature egg is released per cycle. When using fertility medication to enhance ovulation, the ovulating ovary produces more than one egg. This in turn increases the odds of becoming pregnant, sometimes leading to multiple pregnancy.

Reasons to use IUI

Unexplained Infertility

Couples who are facing challenges with unexplained infertility typically opt to use IUI as a first option for ART treatment. There are many causes of female infertility including ovulation disorders, infections, surgeries, thyroid problems, and mild male factor, a less severe form of male infertility. These make it difficult for the egg and sperm to meet naturally and cause a pregnancy. Regardless of the cause, many couples and individuals have benefitted from the intervention of IUI.

Use of Donor Sperm

The use of donor sperm for conception is an option that is typically used by individuals such as single mothers by choice, or by same sex female couples.  IUI is a preferred option because it is affordable as well, it is the least invasive. IUI also offers individuals and couples the option to do the insemination in the privacy of their own homes.

Lifestyle

There are individuals and couples whose lifestyle involves frequent travel. For these, it may be challenging to schedule their sexual activity around their ovulation windows. IUI has proven both beneficial and effective in assisting them to become pregnant. 

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization is an ART treatment option whereby a person undergoes ovarian stimulation using medications which causes them to produce multiple mature eggs during ovulation. When mature, the patient undergoes an egg retrieval procedure which surgically removes the eggs from the ovaries.

The eggs are fertilized with sperm in a controlled lab environment and the embryos are given a few days to mature independently, to a point where they can be transferred back to the uterus. The embryos can also be stored frozen and implanted at a future date.

Reasons to use IVF

Blocked Fallopian Tubes

When a person has blocked fallopian tubes due to a variety of causes, it makes it nearly impossible to conceive naturally. This is because the eggs cannot travel to the uterus and neither can the sperms reach the egg for fertilization. In such cases, IVF has proven to be an effective and successful treatment, providing a chance to women who have otherwise healthy eggs to become pregnant, as the eggs are fertilized directly. 

Low Sperm Parameters

When a man has low sperm parameters it could mean several things including low sperm count and poor motility. Low sperm parameters typically make it more challenging to conceive naturally. IVF has proven to be a successful treatment in such cases because the sperm are used directly to fertilize eggs. In this way, men facing such challenges can still build their families.

Genetic Disorders

Sometimes, a person can carry a hereditary condition that they do not want to pass along to their offspring. These can be verified using a blood test. If the condition does exist, IVF has been successful in genetic testing as well as chromosomal structural rearrangement for certain gene disorders. In this way, prospective parents are able to eliminate the DNA strands that carry disease, retaining the healthy embryos for their family building plans. 

Gestational Carrier

When using a gestational carrier to carry a pregnancy to term, there are many options under which the embryos can be created using IVF procedures. An individual can use their own eggs and their partner’s sperm, donor eggs and their partner’s sperm, or even the gestational carrier’s eggs and their partner’s sperm. Same sex male couples also benefit from gestational carriers, using donated eggs from a known individual, or an egg donation service. 

Fertility Preservation

IVF is also used in fertility preservation. For preserving female fertility, the ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs at one go. These are then fertilized with donor sperm or sperm from a partner. The embryos are then cryopreserved for future use when the individual or couple is ready to begin building their family. IVF has the advantage of producing multiple eggs or embryos which is of benefit in the event that they would need to undergo additional IVF cycles.

Age

Many times patients wish to have children, but are unable to become pregnant naturally due to their age. For women, their age is directly related to their fertile years and even in the healthiest women, fertility diminishes as they age. Again, different conditions and diseases could cause a person to have a diminished ovarian reserve. IVF has been a game changer in providing these individuals and couples with the chance to become pregnant and carry their children to term. 

In Summary

IUI and IVF are fertility treatments that have been very effective in assisting individuals and couples to build families on their terms. They have been particularly beneficial where challenges with infertility have prevented them from having children naturally.

If you have any further questions regarding assisted reproductive technologies, or would like to know which treatment option to use, contact Los Angeles Reproductive Center today. Our team of professionals is available to give you the support you need to build your family.