IVF or IUI?

Key Points:

• We compare IUI and IVF to help you understand the differences.
• 10% – 15% of couples face infertility issues and seek treatment in hopes of becoming parents or adding to their family.
• Surrogacy is a wonderful family-building alternative that couples can pursue when dealing with infertility.

Couples considering fertility assistance to get pregnant often wonder what fertility treatment they should use: IVF or IUI?

This guide will examine:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• IVF and gestational surrogacy

A surrogacy specialist is available to help you learn more about family-building options and how a surrogate can help you grow your family.

Speak with a specialist today!

In the meantime, you can learn more about why people use IUI or IVF below.

Disclaimer: You should always speak to a medical professional if you think you’re experiencing infertility. This article is only intended for educational purposes and should not be taken as medical advice.

IUI or IVF?

Although IVF and IUI have similarities, each infertility treatment is unique.

Infertility Grief

Before we explain why people pursue IUI or IVF treatment, we want to tell you that infertility isn’t something a person causes. Although it’s common to feel frustrated and guilty about an infertility diagnosis, no one is to blame.

If you want to talk to a professional, you can reach out to your medical provider for advice or contact a surrogacy agency. They often have resources, including infertility support group suggestions, that could help you during this time.

What is IUI?

With IUI, sperm is placed directly into the uterus using a speculum.

Doctors usually start with IUI because it’s less invasive than IVF. IUI may be right for you if:

• You are a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• You or your partner have experienced other infertility challenges
• You are in a couple that is experiencing unexplained infertility
• And more

IUI is less expensive than IVF but can be less successful.

The IUI Process

IUI happens in a doctor’s office or fertility clinic. You can expect the following to happen when you start the IUI process.

How Women Experience IUI

While IUI is less invasive than IVF, women undergo more medical steps than men. You can expect the following to happen when you choose IUI:

• The IUI cycle starts on the first day of a patient’s period.
• The doctor will run bloodwork and do ultrasounds for the first 12-14 days of your cycle. These tests help determine whether an egg is ready for ovulation. 
• The actual IUI experience happens on the day of ovulation. This is when sperm is placed in the uterus with a thin catheter.
• Fertilization occurs as “normal.” A doctor will take blood to test for pregnancy.

How Men Experience IUI

Men whose partners are going through IUI can expect to provide a sperm sample. A doctor will take the sample, find the healthy sperm, and then remove that sperm from the rest of the seminal fluid. This process, called washing, helps improve the chances of fertilization.

IUI and Medication

A doctor will determine if you or your partner will or will not use medication during the IUI process. A doctor may prescribe medication if:

• You or your partner have experienced other infertility issues
• You are using a sperm donor
• The doctor thinks it could improve your chance of conceiving

What is IVF?

During IVF, a doctor surgically removes a patient’s eggs. The eggs are fertilized with the other partner’s sperm (or a donor’s sperm) in a fertility clinic. The fertilized eggs are then placed back into the woman’s uterus or a surrogate’s uterus.

A doctor may suggest IVF if:

• Your doctor determines IVF is the best option.
• You or your partner have blocked fallopian tubes.
• You’ve already tried IUI.
• You or your partner are concerned about passing on hereditary conditions to a baby.

IVF is more expensive than IUI and is often more effective.

The IVF Process

You can expect the following to happen during the IVF process.

How Women Experience IVF

Similar to IUI, IVF is more invasive for women. Women typically go through the following steps during an IVF round:

Step 1: Take Ovary Stimulating Medications

Injectable medications, taken for 8-12 days, help the body produce more eggs to increase the chance of fertilization.

Step 2: Egg Retrieval

During an outpatient procedure, a doctor will get the eggs from a patient’s ovaries.

Step 3: Embryo Creation

The male partner’s semen is combined with the eggs and observed for about five days.

Step 4: Embryo Transfer

Once embryos are created, they are placed back into the woman’s uterus, where conception hopefully happens.

How Men Experience IVF

Men will provide a sperm sample for IVF, too. A couple can choose IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) if male infertility is a factor. During this process, a single sperm is injected into an egg.

Considering Surrogacy After Infertility

If you and your partner have tried IUI or IVF without conceiving, you may consider trying surrogacy.

Make Sure You’re Ready for Surrogacy

Getting an infertility diagnosis is challenging. And, if you’ve gone through IVF or IUI, or both procedures, you’re likely feeling emotions ranging from anger to guilt.

You and your partner should decide how you individually feel to determine how to move forward together. After taking time to grieve, some parents choose to move forward with surrogacy.

One of the positive aspects of working with a surrogacy agency is that surrogacy professionals know what you’re going through. These professionals can also suggest infertility support groups that can remind you that you’re not alone.

Surrogacy Basics

Surrogacy is when a surrogate and intended parents bring a baby into the world. You’ll typically work with a:

• Surrogacy agency
• Surrogacy professional
• Fertility clinic

All modern surrogacies are gestational and use IVF. This means the surrogate mother is not related to the baby she carries. Depending on the type of infertility you’re experiencing and your partnership, you may decide to use gamete donors.

Surrogacy Agency Benefits

Although you could pursue independent surrogacy, working with a surrogacy agency can be helpful. Surrogacy agencies will provide you with:

• A surrogacy professional who will help you throughout your journey
• Assistance to ensure your surrogacy is legal and safe
• Surrogate matching services
• And more

Intended Parent Surrogacy Fees

Intended parents pay $60,000 to $150,000 during their surrogacy journey. These fees cover the surrogate’s medical and legal care and provide her base compensation.

Start Your Parenthood Journey Today

Starting with IUI or IVF is a good way to try to conceive. But, you can contact us today if you’re ready to pursue other family-building options.