Choosing Between IUI and IVF

by Shivani Sachdev Director at SCI IVF Hospital

Pregnancy isn't always as simple as one would want. Many couples need further assistance or medical intervention to conceive. When natural methods of conception fail, there are artificial ones, such as IVF and IUI. IUI involves injecting sperm into the uterus. IVF is an elaborate reproductive method that requires many procedures.

IUI vs IVF

The number of eggs the female generated and the location of fertilization are the primary distinctions between IUI and IVF.

· IUI calls for the development of just one or two eggs. The process of sperm implanted within the uterus gives them a head start but still needs fertilization to occur naturally.

· During IVF, a woman is given additional hormones to stimulate the production of many eggs. Ideally, they create approximately 15 ripe eggs. After being extracted from the ovaries, the eggs are fertilized and grown in a laboratory for several days before being reintroduced to the uterus as a very early embryo. This distinction may seem trivial initially, but it has far-reaching consequences.

IUI vs IVF: Treatment Process

· IUI: IUI may be performed with no medicines, a small number of medications or no medications to aid in the development and ovulation of one or two eggs. The insemination that places the sperm within the uterus occurs on day 14 of a woman's cycle. This dramatically improves the odds of natural conception for many individuals because it reduces the distance sperm must travel to reach the egg at the junction of the uterus and the fallopian tubes.

· IVF: Most women who undergo IVF take medication for around ten days to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. When sufficient eggs have matured, a surgical operation is performed to retrieve them. The eggs' fertilization occurs in a laboratory setting, outside the body. An embryo is implanted back into the uterus after a brief development period in a laboratory.

IUI vs IVF: Success Rate

· IUI success rates: IUI has a 15%-20% success rate every cycle, with each person having a 15%-20% chance of success per cycle. With a cumulative success rate of 40% to 50%, doctors often advise trying IUI three to four times. Every month, just 20% of couples, or 1 in 5, manage to conceive in the general population.

· IVF success rates: Your age, ovarian reserve, the cause of your infertility, and the number of healthy pregnancies you've already had all have a role in the IVF success rate. The success rate for a single IVF cycle typically ranges between 50-75%. It may take two or three IVF attempts for a patient to conceive when individual success rates are poor.

What is the better option, IUI or IVF?

Patients and their doctors generally work together when deciding between IUI and IVF. Patient diagnosis, age, financial resources, insurance coverage, and individual choice may all play a role in the final decision.

IUI is often the first line of treatment for couples who, like one example, are in their early 30s but have experienced infertility for unknown reasons but have no other medical issues that would prevent a baby.

IVF is the first line of treatment for a woman who cannot conceive naturally because her fallopian tubes are either obstructed, knotted, or non-existent.

Consulting with a reproductive endocrinologist may help you choose IUI and IVF treatment options.

Conclusion

The highly trained medical staff at SCI IVF Hospital takes great pleasure in being the best in fulfilling people's hopes of becoming parents. They are sympathetic to the fact that every couple's reproductive experience is different and will engage with you to develop a treatment strategy that brings your hopes and ambitions to fruition.