If you have decided to take the help of fertility treatment to conceive, you may come to know about various options that may confuse you with which one to go with. When you start researching this topic, then you may come up with more questions rather than answers. So can you decide which treatment is best for you?
Well! No one size fits all. And the treatment you will choose will completely depend on your specific case. However, the starting point is common for everyone. In vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the two most common treatments you will know about during your research work. You should understand both of them, know their success rate, talk with the specialist and then decide which one will be best for you.
This blog will talk about both of these treatments to give you a clear understanding of both. Then, at the end of the write-up, you will be in a condition to choose one from both options.
IVF vs IUI: Differences between them
Although both these treatments are often discussed together, there are some basic differences in them, which are mentioned below:
Complexity:
In IUI, prepared sperm is directly placed in the woman’s uterus during ovulation for further fertilization. This treatment can be done during a woman’s ovulation period, or through medications, ovulation can be stimulated. You can look for IUI infertility treatment in Meerut or any other city and choose the best hospital based on their reviews.
IVF, on the other side, comprises multiple stages with more than one process. Firstly, stimulation of ovaries is done through fertility medications. Secondly, egg retrieval is done through mild anaesthesia. Thirdly embryo transfer procedure is done in which embryos are created in a lab and directly placed in the uterus.
As compared to IVF, IUI is physically less demanding.
Risk of multiples:
Through fertility medications, IUI involves a greater risk of multiple pregnancies, including triplets or more. Good hospitals like the best IUI clinics in Meerut will keep a watch on your follicles to ensure only safe number is matured before IUI, but some percentage of risk remains there.
However, with advancement in IVF treatment, only one or two embryos are transferred in one IVF cycle. This eliminates the risk of multiple pregnancies as compared to IUI.
Success Rates:
No hospital can promise you the success rate of both the treatments as it completely depends on the individual cases. But as per statistics, IUI has a lower success rate than IVF, and the gap increases with the patients’ age.
- IUI: The average success rate of IUI is 8-15% for women who are below 35. This percentage decreases to 2-5% for above 40 years patient.
- IVF: Average success rate of this treatment lies between 40-45% for patients below 35. This percentage comes down to 15% for women above 42.
Time:
IUI takes much less time than IVF. So if you get success in the first cycle of IUI, it will be the quickest treatment for you to make your family complete. However, because of the low success rate of IUI, patients who are already in their late 30s or early 40s directly opt for IVF instead of wasting time in several cycles of IUI.
Cost:
IUI is much cheaper than IVF, which is one of the main reasons for many patients to go with IUI first. However, depending on your condition and chances of becoming pregnant, sometimes it becomes cost-effective to go directly with IVF instead of wasting money in multiple IUI cycles and ultimately going for IVF.
When to go with IUI?
IUI can be the best option for you to try first in the below conditions:
- In case of a minimum of one unblocked fallopian tubes.
- Ovulation is proper by taking fertility medications.
- The healthy ovarian reserve implies sufficient healthy eggs.
- Normal uterine cavity.
If you meet all the above points, then IUI is the best option for you to try first before IVF.
When you should decide between opting for IVF
There comes the time when the patient thinks of skipping the IUI and directly go for IVF. Patients need to take this decision by themselves by closely consulting with their specialists. IVF can be a good option for those who:
- Are above 38 years of age.
- Have all the fallopian tubes blocked?
- Have reduced ovarian reserve
- Are facing a male infertility factor that needs treatment like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Whether you go with IUI or IVF, the major step is finding the best hospital that can guide you about all the procedures. Opt for IVF treatment in Meerut and check for the best clinics in this city to help you with in-depth medical investigation and treatment. Knowing which factor contributes to your infertility will help the doctors cure it in a better manner.