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What is the difference between IUI and IVF?

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UPDATED ON29 August 2024
WRITTEN BY
Team Progenesis
READING TIME10 mins
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IUI or intrauterine insemination and IVF or In vitro fertilization are the two common methods that are used to treat fertility, increasing the chances of a couple getting pregnant. So let’s understand what these two treatments are and how they differ from one another.

What exactly is IUI?

nIUI is the process in which the concentrated and processed motile sperm is inserted into the woman’s uterus directly. The procedure is perfectly timed with the woman’s ovulation and performed one or two times following the ovulation detection. After ovulation, the woman’s egg gets picked up by the fallopian tube and it waits for the sperm there. Since IUI deposits a high concentration of quality sperm very close to where the woman’s egg is waiting, the chances are higher that the sperm and the egg will find each other.

Who benefits from IUI?

nIUI helps couples when:
  • The woman has some ovulation issues and has not been able to conceive naturally
  • There are some abnormalities in the sperm like motility, concentration, shape, or morphology
  • Donor’s sperm is used to get pregnant
  • Fertility medicines are used to increase the number of eggs ovulated by a woman
  • The male partner has ejaculation difficulties
  • The male partner has frozen sperm taken before the treatment for diseases such as testicular cancer
nIUI is often believed to be the very first option for treatment when it comes to mild endometriosis, male factor infertility or unexplained fertility.

What is IVF?

nIVF is the most successful treatment for fertility used to help couples conceive. The basic parts of the IVF process involve the stimulation of ovaries to produce various eggs at one time, removal of eggs from the ovary, fertilization of eggs in the lab and placement of embryos in the uterus. The chance of getting pregnant from IVF depends largely on the woman’s age, cause of infertility as well as factors related to the quality of IVF laboratory. IVF clinic in Thane ensures that you get detailed help during and after the procedure.

Who benefits from IVF?

nIn vitro fertilization is generally recommended to those who have been trying to get pregnant for over a year and is not successful for one or more fertility issues like:
  • Lack of ovulation
  • Blocked fallopian tubes due to tubal ligation or scarring
  • Egg donation/IVF surrogacy
  • Male partner with a history of vasectomy
  • Low male sperm count or motility
  • Reduced egg supply or poor-quality eggs
  • Advanced endometriosis
nIVF is recommended for couples who have failed to conceive after 3 unsuccessful IUI cycles.

Success rates

nThe success of both can depend on the age of the woman, infertility causes, and various other factors. On average, the success rate for IUI with fertility medicine is 8 to 15 percent per cycle for those under 35 years. The number reduces to just 2-5 percent for those who are over the age of 40. As for IVF, the numbers are higher than this. The success rate ranges from 40 to 45 percent for women who are below 35 years and drops to 15 percent for those who are over 42 years of age. Best IUI clinics ensure that the success rates are high and that due care is taken during and after the treatment.

Which fertility treatment to choose?

nIUI is way less expensive, less invasive and the first course of treatment for those with unexplained infertility, male factor infertility, or women under 40 years of age. For women who experience failed IUI, blocked fallopian tubes, or advanced-level endometriosis, IVF is the best treatment available with the highest chances of success. So, depending on your condition and age, you will be prescribed to go for IUI or IVF by your doctor.

What is the biggest difference between IUI and IVF?

nThe main difference between IVF and IUI is that in the case of IUI, fertilization occurs inteally. This is when the sperm is directly injected into the woman’s uterus. So when the fertilization is successful, the embryo implants there. On the other hand, with IVF, fertilization occurs exteally or outside the uterus. The sperm and egg are combined in a lab for fertilization and after this; one or more of these successfully fertilized eggs are placed inside the woman’s uterus. Ideally, the fertilized egg then implants in the lining of the uterus, leading to pregnancy.nnSo, we hope you clearly understand the difference between IUI and IVF now.

~ Verified by Progenesis Fertility Center's Expert Doctors

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