ICI vs IUI treatment: What is the difference?
ICI and IUI are two very similar – yet different – types of artificial insemination. In this blog post, you can read about the differences between ICI and IUI with donor sperm regarding success rates, costs, complexity, and more.
ICI and IUI treatment are referred to as donor insemination, as they are in someways similar to fertilization through intercourse. Treatments like IVF and ICSI are referred to as fertility treatments, as the procedures require medical intervention for the eggs to be retrieved. Both ICI and IUI can be performed with donor sperm. At Cryos Clinic, we have recently started to offer ICI and IUI with donor sperm. Follow the links below to read more about each procedure:
The main differences between IUI and ICI
| Intracervical Insemination (ICI) | Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) | |
| Success rate | In general, ICI treatment is less successful than IUI. However, success rates differ from one woman to another. | In general, IUI treatment has a higher success rate than ICI. However, success rates differ from one woman to another. |
| Cost | The cost of ICI is lower than IUI. | The cost of IUI is higher than ICI. |
| Invasiveness | ICI is less invasive than IUI, as the sperm is released in the cervix. | IUI is more invasive than ICI, as the sperm is released in the uterus. |
| Complexity | ICI is the simplest form of artificial insemination. It is possible to perform ICI yourself. | IUI is slightly more complex than ICI. As a result, it requires help from a fertility doctor to perform IUI. |
The difference in success rates
As Cryos now offers ICI treatment and IUI treatment with donor sperm through our clinic, we are currently building our knowledge about the effectiveness of these treatments and look forward to sharing our results once we have sufficient data. As we are still in the early stages, we have not gathered sufficient data to draw any conclusions yet. Therefore, we have used different studies to illustrate the success rates of ICI and IUI with donor sperm. Many things may cause IUI failure, if you want to explore the topic feel free to follow the link.
The latest published figures from the Danish Fertility Society show that IUI treatment with donor sperm resulted in the following expected birth rates (foetus with heartbeat at scan in pregnancy week 7) per insemination:
- Under 35 years: 19.1%
- 36-39 years: 14.1%
- 40-42 years: 7.5%
- 43+ years: 1.8%
The same data is not available for ICI treatment but based on the studies from Cochrane Library and Human Reproduction, there is no significant difference in success rates when comparing ICI and IUI treatments in natural cycles with frozen donor sperm.
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Procedures
Here is a brief overview of the two procedures:
- ICI treatment: In ICI, the sperm is placed in the cervix using a thin plastic syringe. ICI can be performed on your own, by a partner, or with the help of a fertility doctor.
- IUI treatment: In IUI, the sperm is placed in the uterus using a thin plastic syringe. Because the sperm is placed in the uterus and not the cervix, the procedure must be performed by a fertility doctor.
Based on the brief overview, there are two main differences between ICI and IUI: the location of the sperm and who can perform the procedure. The difference in procedures also means that IUI is slightly more invasive than ICI, as the sperm is placed closer to the egg. There is no difference in duration, as both procedures take about 30 minutes.
Compared costs
The cost of artificial insemination and fertility treatment differs from one clinic to another, as some offer package deals for a certain number of treatments, lowering the costs of a single treatment. However, as ICI is often performed by yourself or a partner, the price will be lower. This is also the case at Cryos Clinic. A single ICI treatment without donor sperm costs EUR 400 (incl. VAT) compared to a single IUI treatment, which costs EUR 750 (incl. VAT).
Follow the link to read more about prices at Cryos Clinic.
Other articles related to fertility treatment
Medicine
Often, ICI occurs in a natural cycle where insemination is scheduled right after ovulation. This is only possible if the woman has a regular menstrual cycle, as it is required to plan the insemination.
Like ICI, IUI can also be performed in a natural cycle. However, IUI can also occur in stimulated cycles, where egg production is stimulated by medication and ovulation is triggered by injection to help time the insemination. Women who struggle with fertility problems like PCOS, endometriosis, or irregular menstrual cycles may be recommended to start with IUI in stimulated cycles.
Risks and considerations
In general, risks and side effects are extremely rare from ICI and IUI procedures, as they are similar to natural conception. However, there is a risk of side effects from IUI treatment in stimulated cycles. Hormone stimulation and the ovulation trigger can cause hyperstimulation syndrome, bloating, nausea, and breast tenderness. The ovulation trigger may also cause itching, burning, redness, irritation, or light swelling at the injection site. Very rarely, an allergic reaction with difficulty breathing can occur. Follow the link to read about the risks of sperm donation.
What to choose?
Whether you want to start your treatment with ICI or IUI is up to you or your doctor to decide, but there are some considerations you should make before proceeding:
- Are both procedures available: ICI is allowed in most countries, but as it does not require a fertility doctor, some clinics do not offer the procedure. Therefore, before you proceed with a specific procedure, ensure that the clinics you are researching offer the treatment.
- Medical history: ICI in a normal cycle requires a regular menstrual cycle, meaning that if you have a history of fertility issues, IUI in a stimulated cycle may be better suited for you.
- Fertility: Factors like your age, lifestyle, and medical history affect your fertility. If your fertility is low or slightly below average, you may need to start with IUI, as the sperm is placed closer to the egg, thus increasing the chances of fertilization.
We always recommend seeking advice from your doctor if you need help deciding on the next step in your journey. If you have any questions regarding fertility treatment with donor sperm, feel free to contact our Customer Care Team.
Personal stories
Whether you end up choosing ICI or IUI, you may want to read personal stories from women who used artificial insemination to fulfil their dream of a child. Some of them are lesbian parents, while others are Single Mothers by Choice. Follow the links to read their stories:
- Fate wanted me to become a mom
- Single mom by choice - the best decision I ever made
- Sperm donor success stories
While it is interesting to hear the success stories of parents of donor-conceived children, it is also important to focus on donor-conceived children. In general, children conceived with the help of donor sperm are doing well. Follow the links to read some of the stories we have received from donor-conceived children: