Intrauterine insemination (IUI) places ‘high-quality’ sperm (separated from non-moving sperm in the lab) directly inside a woman’s uterus, with the aim of increasing the number of sperm reaching the fallopian tubes – and with that, increasing the chances of fertilisation.
IUI treatments can be either stimulated, where ovulation is prompted by a short course of hormone therapy for the female partner, or natural where ovulation occurs unaided as part of the body’s natural cycle. We will advise which option is best for you.
Many people also ask the difference between – and the benefits of – IUI vs IVF. As a general answer, IUI is less invasive than IVF; once we have placed the sperm inside the uterus your body takes over, whereas in IVF we collect the eggs, monitor for fertilization and select the best embryos to implant back in to the womb. Although IUI is less expensive, since there is less intervention, it is also less successful; around a third of that of IVF. Furthermore, IUI is not always suitable as a choice of fertility treatment. We will obviously discuss with you which is your best option.