IUI vs IVF treatment: What is the difference?

An overview of IUI vs IVF

Compared to IVF, IUI offers a more natural approach to conception, as it allows your body to do most of the work. In IUI, the sperm fertilises the egg in its natural environment, the uterus. Whereas in IVF, the sperm fertilises the egg outside the body in a laboratory, making IVF more invasive than IUI. However, as the eggs are fertilised in a laboratory, IVF is considered to have higher success rates than IUI.

Due to its simplicity and similarities with fertilization through intercourse, IUI is referred to as donor insemination, whereas IVF is referred to as fertility treatment, as this procedure requires medical intervention for the eggs to be retrieved.

The main differences between IUI and IVF outlined

The difference in procedure explained

Here is a brief overview of the differences between the procedures of IUI vs IVF:

IUI treatment

In IUI, a fertility doctor uses a thin plastic syringe to place the sperm in the uterus around the time of ovulation. Hopefully, the sperm reaches the egg and creates fertilization, which evolves into a pregnancy.

At Cryos Clinic, we have recently started to offer IUI with donor sperm. Follow the link to read more about IUI at Cryos Clinic.

IVF treatment

In IVF, a fertility doctor penetrates the uterine wall with a thin needle to retrieve the matured eggs. Once retrieved, each egg is placed in a plastic container, where sperm is added, hopefully leading to fertilization. After fertilization, a single embryo is transferred back into the uterus for the pregnancy to continue.

Some of the most significant differences between IUI and IVF are:

• Egg retrieval: The procedure is quite extensive, and medication is required to ease the pain caused by the procedure. As a result, we recommend you take the rest of the day off. Follow the link to read more about egg retrieval in IVF treatment.
• Fertilization: After IUI, fertilization occurs inside the uterus, similar to normal fertilization, whereas fertilization in IVF occurs outside the body in a plastic container.
• Embryo transfer: Embryo transfer is not a part of IUI but is required in IVF, as the embryos must grow in an incubator before being transferred back into the uterus.

Relevant articles about IVF

• Why does IVF fail?
• The disadvantages of using IVF to have a baby
• IVF and Reciprocal IVF for lesbian couples

The difference in success rates

It is difficult to compare success rates between IUI and IVF treatment, as many factors influence whether the treatment ends in pregnancy or not. Often, women who used IVF to become pregnant struggled with fertility problems like PCOS or endometriosis, thus lowering the chances of a pregnancy. On the other hand, IUI is often used by single women or couples without fertility problems, who need help from a sperm donor to conceive, thus improving the chances of fertilization, as the sperm is high-quality.

In general, IVF will have a higher success rate when comparing the two procedures, but it is also more invasive and expensive. Many things may cause IUI failure, if you want to explore the topic feel free to follow the link.

Success rates for IVF treatment with frozen embryos

According to the NHS, the birth rate per frozen embryo transferred for IVF treatment in 2021 was:

• 31% for women under 35
• 27% for women aged 35 to 37
• 22% for women aged 38 to 39
• 17% for women aged 40 to 42
• 14% for women aged 43 to 44
• 17% for women aged over 44

Compared costs

When comparing the cost of a single treatment, there is no doubt, that IVF is more expensive than IUI. A single round of IVF treatment often starts at 5500 EUR per cycle, whereas an IUI treatment without donor sperm at Cryos Clinic costs around 850 EUR per cycle. Follow the link to read more about the cost of having IVF in the UK. However, it is difficult to compare the costs, as they differ a lot depending on the specific fertility clinic offering the treatment. If you are unsure of what to choose, we recommend contacting your doctor and listening to their advice.

Follow the link to read more about donor sperm costs at Cryos.

Medicine

Here is an overview of the medicine prescribed in different IUI treatments and how it differs from the medicine used in IVF:

• IUI in a natural cycle: There is no need for any medicine if you plan to undergo IUI treatment in a natural cycle, as insemination is performed around the time of ovulation.
• IUI in a stimulated cycle: However, if you need fertility medication to stimulate your egg production, the need for medicine is equal to what you need in IVF treatment leading up to the egg retrieval. During the egg retrieval, you will be given sedation to limit any pain caused by the procedure.

Risks and considerations

In general, risks and side effects are rare in IUI treatment, as it is similar to natural conception. However, IUI in a stimulated cycle has similar risks as IVF, as fertility medication is needed in both treatments to increase egg production. Fertility medication 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.

What to choose

Whether you should begin your journey towards parenthood with IUI or IVF is up to you and your doctor to decide, but there are some considerations worth taking into account:

• Medical history: IVF removes almost all obstacles for the sperm cells, meaning that if you struggle with male infertility like low sperm quality, you should consider IVF. IVF is also an option for women struggling with female infertility problems like PCOS and endometriosis, whereas IUI is often the preferred option for single women and couples who need donor sperm to become parents.
• Fertility: Factors like your age, lifestyle, and medical history affect your fertility. If you struggle with male infertility, IVF may be the best start for you, as all obstacles are removed for the sperm cells increasing their chances of fertilizing the egg. On the other hand, if you are a single woman or couple without fertility problems, you could start your journey with IUI.

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

No matter whether you end up choosing IUI or IVF, personal stories from other people who used fertility treatment to fulfil their dream, may be something to calm your mind. Some of the happy parents we spoke to are lesbian parents, while others are heterosexual couples who struggled with infertility. Follow the links to read their stories:

• Caitlin and Leah’s journey - Starting their own family
• Julie and Camilla's fertility journey
• Being a dad to a donor-conceived child

It is always interesting to get success stories from parents of donor-conceived children, but it is just as important to focus on the donor-conceived children as well. Follow the links to read some of the stories we have received from donor-conceived children:

• Being egg donor-conceived – and finding out as an adult
• Fredrik came into the world with the help of a donor
• Being donor-conceived: 4 donor-conceived people share their story