When it comes to fertility treatments, there are a number of alternatives to consider based on your and your partner’s specific demands. One such option is taking Clomid medication but some people may be more familiar with other options such as IVF and IUI, even though they are not aware of the distinction between them or what either procedures entail. While it is critical to talk about your unique situation with your fertility specialists, you should learn the differences between IUI and IVF.

What is IUI?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, is a painless outpatient procedure. The physician places sperm that has previously been collected and processed in the lab into the uterine cavity. Before placement, the sperm is “washed” in the lab by removing seminal fluid and concentrating it.

Minimally invasive in nature, IUI may be done with the aid of fertility therapies to improve ovulation function or performed during her natural ovulation. Ovulation predictor kits available over-the-counter can be used to determine when a woman is most likely to ovulate.

The sperm is positioned higher in the uterine cavity to avoid the cervix, reducing the length of time it takes to traverse the fallopian tubes. This boosts the number of sperm that have a chance of hitting the egg.

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment or assisted reproductive technology (ART) technique in which a man’s sperm and a woman’s eggs are combined outside of the body in a lab.

The woman receives fertility medication to help her ovaries work harder before the fertilization procedure. The egg retrieval is conducted under anaesthesia, and insemination is performed on the same day.

The seed is left in the tube, which is kept moist with a wet towel or similar item. When it has grown to the appropriate size, it is transferred out of the testes and into the scrotum.

What are the Biggest Differences between IUI and IVF?

The primary distinction between IUI and IVF is that in IUI, fertilization takes place within the body. In other words, the sperm is directly inserted into the uterus of the woman. As a result, if fertilization succeeds, so does implantation.

IVF involves fertilization outside the uterus, or in a lab. For fertilization, the sperm and egg are mixed together and, after this procedure is complete, one or more of these successfully fertilized eggs might be placed in the woman’s womb. Ideally, the fertilized egg should implant in the uterine wall and result in a full-term baby.

Artificial insemination has a higher success rate than IUI. Artificial insemination is less expensive and requires less intervention than IVF. Before progressing to IVF, many experts recommend couples try three rounds of IUI.

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) claims that the IVF success rate in the United States is around 30% for women of all ages, but it rises to about 40% if the patient is under 35.

What do IUI and IVF Have in Common?

The majority of the time, IVF and IUI are similar; however, they do have some commonalities. Preparation for treatment and the fundamental processes of human conception were two of them.

Both IUI and IVF may include a series of fertility medicines to boost success rates in fertilization or, in the case of IVF, to aid in ovulation and egg retrieval. In addition, both therapies might utilize procedures to remove the best quality sperm from provided samples for fertilization.

To succeed, an egg must be fertilized and then implanted in the uterine lining to form a full-term infant, or multiple infants, during IVF and IUI. That’s about as basic as it gets when it comes to human reproduction’s inner workings.