Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF)? An ambiguous dilemma that wavers many couples today.
On the one hand, intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a low-cost process, with a smaller amount of medication needed, with a certain amount of necessary blood investigations that need to be underwent but with a lower success rates records. On the other hand, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method that indicates higher pregnancy success rates and constitutes a treatment not only with a therapeutic but also a diagnostic character.
However, we will analyze deeper the two most-known assisted reproduction methods in order to provide you a holistic view on the issue.
To begin with, IUI is currently available for assisted conception and the procedure stars with a fine catheter, which is inserted though the cervix into the uterine cavity. This catheter transfers sample of the sperm where is placed directly into the uterus. The best specimens for the procedure were selected. It is a matter of great importance to know that the procedure should be performed at the exact time the woman’s ovulation occurs. The main advantages of IUI are:
1) It is less inevasible than IVF
2) It is less expensive than IVF
3) It is required a small amount of medication for the completion of the therapy
The effectiveness of the following method demands
- The woman’s young age,
- The testing of the tubal obstruction as well as
- The use of sample with the right shape of sperm able to travel rapidly and accurately towards the ovum.
Additionally, IUI it is not recommended to women who have severe disease of uterine tubes, with history of pelvic inflammatory disease and/or severe endometriosis.
Intrauterine insemination can be applied into 2 ways:
- In a natural cycle, following the woman’s ovulation and then the sperm will be injected into her uterus at the optimal time of conception.
- With ovarian medical stimulation that will be monitored by ultrasounds and blood test investigations
It is important to report that, if an IUI treatment is not successful, we will not be able to recognize the reasons and the causes of failure, since IUI has only a therapeutic and not diagnostic elements.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process in which an ovum is fertilized by the sperm outside the woman’s body and gives us the chance to create a new life in the laboratory. After the fertilization, the embryo is implanted in the uterus in order for a pregnancy to begin. This process is not available during an IUI treatment. IVF is an assisted reproduction method used for the treatment of infertility. It can overlap problems like tubal obstruction, fibroids, endometriosis as well as low sperm count, lack of sperm or low sperm mobility. Its pregnancy success rates depend on a variance of factors such as maternal age, cause of infertility, embryo status, reproductive history and lifestyle. Younger aged women willing to undergo an IVF treatment are more likely to get pregnant (60-65% pregnancy success rates). What is more, this method enabled the scientists to develop a way of accurately identifying which embryos are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes or other pathologies.
The procedure of IVF treatment is distinguished into 4 stages:
- The first stage is the ovarian hyper-stimulation, using hormonal medications such as injectable gonadotropins that induce the development of multiple follicles of the ovaries. An IVF treatment can also be underwent in a woman’s natural cycle (one oocyte develops in the ovary every month) and where there is no stimulation
- The next two stages are characterized by the egg collection and the fertilization of the selected eggs by the sperm in the embryological laboratory. In specific cases, as low sperm count or motility, a single sperm may be injected directly into the egg using intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI).
- The fourth stage is the embryo-transfer 2-days 5 later, where the embryo will be implanted into the women’s uterine. The number of the transferred embryos will be determined by the established legislation and is, usually, dependent on the number of previous gestations, the age of the woman and other health or diagnostic factors. Finally, if there are embryos of excellent quality left, with the completion of the treatment, cryopreservation constitutes also a choice.
Knowledge plays a vital role since it determines your choices…choices that can change your life rapidly and bring you closer to your inner passions, thoughts, wills… So make the right choices and let us guide you through the path of happiness! Believe us…the final destination will surprise you!!