If you’ve been having trouble conceiving or are planning to become a solo parent by choice, you might be thinking about having fertility treatment to help. But with a number of methods to consider, it can be tough to know where to begin. We're here to help with a quick rundown of two of the most common types of fertility treatment: intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

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These can be confusing terms when you’ve only just started your research. But you’re in the right place – there’s no medical jargon here. We'll help you feel more confident in making a decision by explaining what IVF and IUI mean and the key differences between them. 

What is IUI?

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI for short, takes place inside the body. This method takes the best sperm and inserts them directly into a woman's uterus during ovulation. This decreases the distance the sperm has to travel to the egg, improving the chances of conceiving.

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IUI uses a woman's own eggs and either the sperm of a partner or donor sperm.

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization, or IVF for short, takes place outside the body. Eggs are taken out of the body and are fertilized with sperm in a lab before being transferred into the uterus to implant. 

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IVF can be done in a number of ways, using any combination of your eggs, donor eggs, your partner's sperm, or donor sperm. 

IVF vs IUI

Every person’s fertility is unique. You should always talk to a doctor or fertility specialist to get a better picture of your fertility treatment options. They’ll talk you through what’s involved and assess your chances of success with each treatment so that you can make the best choice. 

Is IUI a good option for me?

You might want to have IUI treatment if:

• you’re using donated sperm and have no female fertility problems;
• you’re a heterosexual couple who can’t (or finds it difficult to) have sex;
• you’re in a same-sex couple;
• you have a health condition which means you need help conceiving safely;
• you have unexplained fertility problems.

Is IVF a good option for me?

IVF might be an option for you if any of the following apply to you and/or your partner:

• you have blocked or damaged fallopian tubes;
• you don't ovulate regularly or have unexplained fertility problems;
• you have low sperm count, or sperm that is abnormally shaped or slow;
• your age means that other treatments may not work for you;
• previous, less invasive fertility treatments haven’t worked for you;
• you’re using a surrogate.

Which treatment is less invasive?

IUI is a shorter, less invasive treatment than IVF, but no matter which method you use, fertility treatment is never easy. All treatment types are invasive to some degree, so it’s about choosing the one that’s most likely to be successful for you. Finding out as much as you can about the IVF process before you start can help you feel more prepared for treatment. 

IUI vs IVF success rates

IUI tends to be 1/3 as successful as IVF, because IUI treatment relies on the sperm naturally fertilizing an egg once it's injected into the body. With IVF, a doctor will transfer an embryo, or an already fertilized egg, back into the body to implant in hopes of starting a healthy pregnancy.

How successful IUI and IVF could be for you depends on your personal health factors as well as your age. Your doctor will be able to give you more guidance as to whether either of these fertility treatments may work for you.

What’s the cost of IUI vs IVF?

The minimum cost for IVF starts at $18,000 per cycle, although prices from clinic to clinic can vary widely, and there are often additional hidden costs to bear in mind.

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IUI is much less expensive, with one cycle costing around one-third of one cycle of IVF.