15 Jun Differences between Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) and In Vitro Fertilization

By Reproclinic Editorial Committee

Although many people confuse them, Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) and In Vitro Fertilization are not synonymous. We’ll now explain you the differences between these assisted reproduction treatments!

The choice of a fertility treatment depends on many factors, such as the condition suffered by the couple or if they are single mothers who want to become pregnant.

In the case of a young couple, who has satisfactorily passed the fertility tests but can not conceive naturally, the ideal treatment would beIntrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination). In the case of unmarried young women or women whose male partner has a fertility or sterility problem, Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) can be performed with donor sperm.

When the woman is over 37 years old, her ovarian reserve is insufficient or she suffers another type of fertility problem, the most demanded treatment is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Both treatments are the most used in assisted reproduction clinics.

The choice between Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) and In Vitro Fertilization depends on the case, and based on the results of the different tests and studies carried out by the specialist in assisted reproduction. There is no better than other, but simply different options for each patient. By offering the right choice to each case, we increase the chances of success. Thanks to this policy, at Reproclinic, we insist on the importance of a good diagnosis and a trustworthy center.

What is Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination)?

Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) is the simplest and least invasive assisted reproduction technique. It is usually the first step when there are fertility problems, although as we said earlier, it will depend on the causes and conditions of each patient. It is carried out by monitoring or inducing the ovulation of the woman. Next, we deposit the sperm inside the uterus, at the time of ovulation. In addition, the sperm is previously treated in the laboratory to improve its quality and maximize the chances of pregnancy.

Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) is usually recommended to women who want to be single mothers, to female partners (in this case donor sperm will be used), young heterosexual couples, in which the semen meets certain requirements or when infertility is caused by slight male factor.

The treatment is done in the same consultation and is a painless process that does not need sedation. It is the easiest and most economical option, although it is also true that it has a lower success rate (between 15% and 20%).

What is In Vitro Fertilization?

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) consists on the extraction of a woman’s ovules in order to perform the fertilization in the laboratory, and then carry out the embryo transfer. It is a much more complex technique than Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination), since it requires the implementation of surgery (follicular puncture) performed with mild sedation. There are different modalities: natural IVF, IVF with sperm or ovum from a donor, shared maternity and frozen embryos are among the most common.

It is the ideal treatment for women or couples in which infertility persists after other simpler treatments. And also, for the case of older women, with obstructed tubes, Endometriosis, with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, couples with infertility of unknown origin, lesbians or parents with genetic diseases.

In addition to being more complex, it is also a more expensive treatment, but it registers higher percentages of success. It is the most effective technique to achieve the long-awaited positive.

So, what differentiates Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) from In Vitro Fertilization?

Both Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) and In Vitro Fertilization are assisted reproduction techniques that help a woman or a couple to conceive. In Intrauterine Insemination, which is considered the simplest technique, fertilization takes place in the woman’s own body, while the In Vitro Fertilization is done in vitro, that is in a laboratory, outside the woman’s body. Intrauterine Insemination, therefore, could be considered as a more natural fertilization which substitutes coitus for a special technique.

In both techniques, the sperm can be from a donor. And in IVF, the ovule can also be from a donor.

As we can see, the differences between Intrauterine Insemination (Artificial Insemination) and In Vitro Fertilization are based on the complexity of the treatment and the difference in the success rate. Each one is suitable for a type of patient, depending on their age, reason for infertility and other hormonal or reproductive alterations.