IUI:

What is IUI? 

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) also known as artificial insemination, is a fertility treatment that helps couples and individuals achieve pregnancy by directly placing selected high-quality sperm into the uterus during the time of ovulation. This procedure can also be performed after a cycle involving fertility medication to stimulate ovulation. Unlike conventional IVF, IUI allows fertilization to happen naturally without the need for egg collection or embryo transfer.

Who should consider IUI? 

IUI can be a great first-line treatment for many people starting their fertility journey. It may be suitable if:

• You are considering using sperm donors
• You are a single woman
• You have difficulty having vaginal intercourse 

IUI may not be the best option if you or your partner have significant infertility problems such as severe endometriosis, very low sperm count, or issues with the fallopian tubes.

What does the research say? 

The effectiveness of IUI, especially for those with unexplained infertility, has been widely studied. However, research indicates that IUI does not significantly improve pregnancy rates for couples facing unexplained infertility, particularly if ovarian stimulation drugs are not used. For those considering IUI, it's important to understand that success rates can be lower than other fertility treatments, like IVF¹. 

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When it comes to achieving pregnancy, statistics suggest that most couples may need to undergo 3-6 cycles of IUI to stand a realistic chance of a pregnancy. Research shows that the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate after three cycles is about 18%, increasing to around 30% after six cycles, and 41% after nine cycles. This suggests that multiple attempts might be necessary to achieve a successful pregnancy².

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Additionally, there is a risk of multiple pregnancies with IUI, especially when fertility drugs are used to stimulate ovulation. These drugs can cause the release of multiple eggs in one cycle, which increases the chance of twins or more. Multiple pregnancies can present additional risks for both the mother and the babies, such as premature birth and other complications³. 

myfertility’s take on IUI 

While IUI is a less invasive and more affordable option than IVF, it's important to remember that it generally has a lower success rate per cycle. Many couples will need to undergo several cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy. Just like with natural conception, where it can take several cycles to conceive, IUI requires patience and understanding that it might not work immediately.

If you want to learn more about the best fertility clinics for you, and which clinics do these treatments, be sure to check out our clinic finder and clinic matcher. We built these tools to help you find and match with IVF clinics and fertility specialists near you, and filter through them all based on their success rates, prices, patient reviews, technologies and support services offered. 

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Find low cost IVF near you and top fertility clinics near you, and get a breakdown of all the hidden IVF costs and what to look our for. You can also join the myfertility circle on slack and chat with with other patients going through their fertility journey and our team of dedicated and experienced experts.