Infertility is one of the major problems faced by many couples today. It is a condition that impairs the ability of the couples to conceive or achieve pregnancy naturally. There are various ways to treat infertility, from taking fertility drugs to assisted reproductive technologies. IUI IVF are both assisted reproductive technologies suitable for couples who have trouble conceiving.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination is a procedure that helps facilitate the fertilization of egg by the sperm. IUI is usually recommended for couples who have infertility problems like low sperm count, poor sperm motility, mild endometriosis, and for couples who are unable to do the sexual act due to injury, disability, and difficulties like impotency and premature ejaculation. IUI is also recommended for lesbian couples and single women.
Depending on the type of infertility problem, most women are usually given stimulating drugs to promote ovulation. Once ovulation is achieved, the male partner will provide the sperm. His sperm will be "washed" as a way of quality checking to eliminate the weak and poor-quality sperm cells. Using a catheter, the sperm will be put directly into the woman's uterus near the fallopian tube. This method aims to guide the sperm directly to the egg to promote higher rate of fertilization. In some cases donated sperm are also used.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In-vitro fertilization is a more enhanced way of treating infertility problems. IVF is usually recommended for couples who have tried other infertility treatments but failed, women who have blocked fallopian tubes, men with severe infertility problems, women 38 years or older, women with reduced ovarian reserve, and women with severe endometriosis.
Most women are given stimulating drugs to promote ovulation. Once ovulated, the eggs will be retrieved directly from the woman's ovaries. After the retrieval process, the egg and sperm are placed together in a laboratory dish. The doctor will either wait for the sperm to naturally fertilize the eggs or use an ICSI technique by directly injecting the sperm into each egg for a higher chance of fertilization. After 3-5 days of embryo culture, the fertilized egg will be returned back to the uterus through a catheter. From then on, patients will wait for several weeks to confirm if the embryo has successfully implanted or if pregnancy is achieved. Donated sperms and eggs are also options available for couples. And like IUI, IVF also aims to help couples who have trouble conceiving the natural way.
IUI IVF Advantages and Disadvantages
To compare IUI IVF side by side, IVF is a more popular process of assisted reproductive technology but because of the cost, some couples tend to choose IUI for it is less invasive and a lot less expensive compared to IVF. One disadvantage of IUI procedure is that it can only treat mild cases of infertility problems while IVF can help almost all couples with infertility problems. An IVF cycle would cost around $10,000 - $ 15,000 while IUI costs an average of $500.
Here is one scenario to explain the difference between IUI IVF. A woman whose age is 30 with an unknown cause of infertility and has been trying to conceive for at least 2 years has an 8% chance of getting pregnant with 3 cycles of IUI. While with IVF, her chance is as high as 55% for one cycle only. Whether to choose IUI IVF, financial issues are always a big factor. Couples should calculate their odds and be wise.