IVF vs. IUI: What is The Difference?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are both forms of assisted reproductive technology (ART) therapies. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and many couples try to get pregnant using both forms of ART in the course of their fertility treatments.

In this article, we shall explore the differences between IVF and IUI. We shall also be comparing their processes, success rates, and costs. With the assistance of a healthcare professional, you can decide which fertility treatment is right for you.

What Is IUI and IVF?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are both forms of assisted reproductive technologies used to help individuals and couples who are experiencing challenges with infertility and are unable to conceive naturally.

While these two approaches share similarities, IUI is generally less invasive and more affordable compared to IVF.  However, typically, IUI has lower success rates than IVF comparatively.

What is IUI?

Intrauterine insemination is a form of ART, also known as artificial insemination, in which a specially prepared sperm sample is placed directly into the uterus, following preparatory hormone treatments for the partner intending to carry the pregnancy.

A typical IUI treatment course begins with an initial consultation and examination to confirm if the treatment is appropriate. If the procedure is approved, the patient will begin hormone therapy by taking an ovary stimulant. This will cause the tiny follicles on the ovaries to grow to maturity and release a mature egg that is ready for fertilization.

While this hormone therapy is underway, a sperm sample - from either a partner or a third-party donor - undergoes a special treatment called a “sperm wash.” During this process, unwanted materials, including less viable sperm, are removed from the sample, leaving behind healthy, motile sperm.

The IUI procedure is typically done at your healthcare provider’s office. The process itself is relatively brief and painless. A small catheter is inserted into the uterus using a speculum, and the prepared sperm sample is inserted into the uterus through the catheter.

A pregnancy test is taken within two weeks of the treatment. If the procedure is successful, the test will come back positive. If not, your healthcare provider may recommend trying another round of IUI therapy or may suggest exploring other options of ART treatment.

What is IVF

In vitro fertilization is another common form of ART treatment. In this treatment, healthy eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized in a controlled laboratory setting before the healthy embryo is reinserted into the uterus.

Like IUI, an IVF treatment course will also begin with an initial consultation and examination with a professional healthcare provider in order to determine if IVF is the appropriate course of fertility treatment. 

The IVF cycle itself will often begin with a hormone treatment consisting of estrogen supplements or birth control pills to control the patient’s natural menstrual cycle. This process is also known as “ovarian suppression”, and it helps the healthcare provider to appropriately time the egg retrieval procedure.

The next step is similar to IUI treatments and consists of ovary stimulating injections that are versions similar to what the brain makes during a natural cycle. The difference is that, whereas during typical ovulation, only one egg reaches full maturity, the injections encourage the ovaries to develop a large group of eggs, making them viable for retrieval.

Once the follicles in which the eggs are growing reach an appropriate size, a final hormone treatment, known as a “trigger shot,” is administered within 36 hours of egg retrieval. This pushes the developing eggs into full maturity. The timing of the final hormone injection is key to maximizing the likelihood of a successful retrieval.

The egg retrieval process consists of guiding a thin needle to the ovaries using ultrasound while the patient is under light anesthesia. A small suction device is then used to extract the mature eggs from the enlarged follicles. Once the eggs have been retrieved, a sperm sample - prepared in a similar way to those used in IUI treatments - is used to fertilize the eggs.

From there, the embryos are allowed to mature for about a week before they are either frozen for future rounds of treatment or implanted in the uterus. The implantation procedure is very similar to IUI, whereby a small catheter is used to insert the embryo into the uterus. 

Once the embryo is in the uterus, it will hopefully implant in the uterine lining, becoming a viable and healthy pregnancy. A successful treatment cycle will appear as a positive pregnancy test approximately 10-12 days after the embryo transfer.

Which Treatment Is Right for You?

Each treatment type has its pros and cons.  Your doctor, after reviewing your workup in detail, is the best person to counsel you about your specific likelihood of success with each treatment type.

Many couples choose to try IUI first because it is less invasive and more affordable. IUI treatments can range from several hundred dollars to around $4,000 per round, while a round of IVF treatment averages around $20,000. 

IUI can be a good option for couples struggling with ovulatory issues or unexplained infertility. However, in cases where low sperm or egg quality causes infertility or where a blocked fallopian tube is affecting fertility, IUI has a much lower success rate. 

Many couples and individuals who have had multiple unsuccessful rounds of IUI will try IVF as a secondary option. It is also common for individuals or couples to try IVF first in cases where the partner carrying the pregnancy is over the age of 38 or if that partner has severe endometriosis.

Although more expensive and more invasive than IUI, IVF has been found to have a significantly higher success rate than IUI. Overall, IUI has been found to be less effective than IVF, with a 12% chance of pregnancy, compared to as high a chance of pregnancy as 60% with IVF. 

A 2015 study of live birth rates following IVF treatments revealed that after a single round of IVF, subjects saw a 29.5 percent live birth rate (not just pregnancy rate) and a 63.5 percent total live birth rate after six rounds of IVF. 

This by far exceeds the 5 to 15 percent live-birth rate found in IUI treatments of a similar study, previously conducted in 2013. Further, the study did not detect a change in live birth rate regardless of the number of rounds of IUI treatments undergone by subjects.

In Conclusion

IUI and IVF are both practical options for many couples and individuals struggling with infertility, and each has its benefits and challenges as well.

The decision regarding which of the two treatments is best is left to the prospective parents under the counsel of their healthcare providers. 

A literature review on which treatment should be the first option found that the research to date is inconclusive in this regard, and further what may be best for one case may be wrong for another.

Contact Us

If you are curious about what options for ART therapies could be best for your family, contact Ivy FertilityFertiity. We offer a wide range of family-building services at our locations across the country.