IVF vs. IUI

Becoming pregnant can be challenging for many reasons and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been invaluable in giving individuals and couples a chance at building their families. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is quite popular for its success rate. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is preferred for its cost. 

We shall be comparing these two methods, and then with the assistance of your healthcare provider, you can determine which method would best benefit your family building goals. So let us discuss the processes, expenses, and success rates of each of these fertility treatments.

What Is IUI and IVF?

IUI and IVF are assisted reproductive technologies that are typically used when people are having challenges in conceiving children naturally. Although similar in some ways, IUI is less invasive and less expensive than IVF. IVF has had higher success rates though. We shall break down the processes involved in both IUI and IVF to give you a clearer picture on what to expect out of the treatments.

IUI

Another term for IUI is artificial insemination. If you want to use IUI to get pregnant, you will first have a consultation with a healthcare professional which will include an examination to ensure that IUI is a suitable fertility treatment for you.

Whoever will carry the pregnancy will begin hormonal treatments to prepare their womb for pregnancy. This will include an ovary stimulant which makes the follicles on the ovaries develop and release a mature egg ready for fertilization.

The sperm that will be used for fertilization can come from a partner or third party donor. It will be prepared for fertilization through a process of sorting through the semen, removing less viable sperm cells and any unwanted materials. The healthy, motile sperm that are left will be used to fertilize the mature egg.

For the insemination process, a speculum is inserted through the vagina to open up the cervix, then a catheter is inserted into the uterus. The prepared sperm will be placed into the uterus through this catheter. The entire process is done at a healthcare provider’s office fairly quickly and without pain.

A pregnancy test will be done after about two weeks to check if the procedure was successful. Your healthcare provider will advise you on the next steps once the results are out. 

IVF

IVF treatment is done in several stages after a consultation and examination with a professional healthcare provider.

Hormone treatments in the form of estrogen supplements or birth control pills will be prescribed for the person who will be carrying the pregnancy, in order to control their menstrual cycle. This step, also known as ovarian suppression, helps the healthcare provider to accurately time the egg retrieval stage.

The ovaries are then stimulated using hormone-based injections which will cause the ovaries to develop multiple follicles to a particular suitable size. About 36 hours before retrieval, a final hormone injection is administered to trigger multiple eggs to mature fully at one go.

Using an ultrasound for guidance, a thin needle is used to carefully perforate the follicles, and extract the eggs using suction. Light anaesthesia is administered for this procedure and the retrieved eggs are fertilized right away using an optimized sperm sample in a lab setting.  

The newly formed embryos mature in the lab for about a week, then using a small catheter, they are inserted directly into the uterus. After about 10 days or so, a pregnancy test is conducted to check if the embryos implanted onto the uterine wall successfully. Unused embryos are usually frozen for future IVF treatment rounds.

Which Treatment Is Right for You?

If a couple is experiencing unexplained infertility that is not caused by low sperm, poor egg quality or fallopian tube blockage, IUI can be a good option. Once your initial tests have been reviewed, your doctor or healthcare provider can advise you on your options. IUI is less costly and less invasive, so most people prefer to begin their ART journey here. 

However if after several rounds of IUI, they are unable to become pregnant, IVF may be the next option. There are some who will go for IVF as a first option, where the person hoping to carry the pregnancy is over 38 years old, or has severe endometriosis.

In Conclusion

ART treatments such as IUI and IVF provide solutions for conception in cases where infertility is an obstacle to family building. IUI typically costs from a few hundred  dollars to about $4,000 per round, while IVF treatments average about $20,000 per round.

However, IVF has much higher success rates than IUI, where IUI has a 12% chance of pregnancy, IVF has a 60% chance. Ultimately, the treatment plan to begin with as a first option, can only be made after consulting with a professional healthcare provider. 

Contact Us

To learn more about ART therapies, contact Ivy Fertility. We offer family-building services delivered with compassionate care at various locations across the country.