When seeking fertility treatments, you may come across tests and procedures of various kinds. Your doctor may even recommend various treatment options, leaving you to decide and make the choice. In some cases, you may be indulging in some research before you approach the professionals to commence a fertility treatment.
Either way, the more informed you are, the better the decisions you make. IUI and IVF are some of the more popular and most commonly cited fertility treatments. Instead of losing yourself in the sea of jargon, it is best to know more about what these abbreviated words mean and how they are relevant to you.
What is IUI?
IUI treatment, or intrauterine insemination, is the process where the chances of fertilisation within the uterus are improved by conducting a deliberate selection of healthier sperms from the semen. It is also used when the female partner opts for a sperm donor.
The process starts with the semen sample being washed to allow the selection of healthy, motile sperm. Meanwhile, the female is prescribed medication and hormones for ovarian stimulation and enhanced reproductive function, if needed. This allows for ovaries to produce an egg conducive to fertilisation through the IUI treatment.
Once the female is in the ovulation phase and the egg has made its way down the fallopian tubes into the uterus, the selected sperm is introduced. Natural sexual intercourse allows for semen deposits in the vagina, from where they pass through the cervix and enter the uterus. In the IUI process, sperm is placed directly in the uterus using a vial attached to a catheter (slim tube) which is inserted through the vagina.
The IUI treatment is relatively affordable, less invasive, and takes less time. Some of the common cases where IUI may be recommended include:
- Unhealthy sperm
- Physical inability to perform sexual intercourse
- Mild endometriosis
- Unfavourable cervical health
- Non-heterosexual couple
- Need for a sperm donor
- Unexplained infertility
What is IVF?
IVF is a process that is a step ahead of the IUI treatment. IVF refers to In Vitro Fertilisation, or fertilisation that occurs outside the body. In vitro translates to ‘within the glass’, thus meaning that the fertilisation process is conducted in a laboratory.
The treatment starts with the collection of semen and the selection of healthy sperm, akin to IUI. Since the fertilisation is to be conducted outside the body, oocyte (eggs) are also retrieved from the female. This will be an invasive procedure. The female is required to undergo a course of fertility drugs to boost reproductive health and allow the production of multiple eggs. The reproductive system naturally produces only one egg per cycle, but more are required for the IVF procedure. The retrieved eggs are then fertilised with the sperm. These fertilised eggs undergo testing and observation for the next few days, after which they are transferred to the uterus.
IVF is an invasive treatment and is usually opted for in dire cases or when basic options have been exhausted. Several routine tests are conducted on both partners before they are recommended IVF as a course of treatment.
Here are a few cases where IVF is recommended:
- Endometriosis
- Reduced ovarian function
- Uterine fibroids
- Male infertility
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Reduced fertility at an advanced age in women
- Unexplained infertility
IVF is usually considered a costlier treatment. Furthermore, one may not achieve a successful pregnancy in the first cycle and may require multiple cycles of IVF. Preparing yourself and your partner for the time-consuming, invasive nature of the treatment is key. While the risk of miscarriage is at par with a normal pregnancy, IVF treatment is observed to have led to multiple pregnancies and ectopic (outside the uterus) pregnancies.
Difference between IUI and IVF
The fundamental difference to understand between these two treatments is that they are each recommended as a mode of treatment for different conditions. While IVF may address a wider range of fertility issues, IUI treatment may help with male infertility or mild endometriosis in a woman.
Each takes a different length of time, comes with varying risks, and a variance in the cost as well. Here are the differences you may need to keep in mind when pursuing fertility treatments.
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IVF |
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Which treatment you may be recommended will depend on the fertility issues you are facing. It is best to make an informed choice by consulting your doctor about it.