IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) and IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) are two common fertility treatments—but they differ greatly in success rates, cost, and invasiveness. IUI is a simpler, less costly procedure, where washed sperm is placed directly into the uterus to encourage natural fertilization. It typically offers 10–20% success per cycle for women under 35, with lower rates as age increases (≈7–10% for ages 38–40, and 4–5% over 40) https://www.asianinfertility.com/blog/iui-vs-ivf. In contrast, IVF involves retrieving eggs, fertilizing them in a lab, and transferring embryos, which gives clinicians more control and leads to higher success—commonly 40–60% per cycle for women under 35, dropping to about 26% for ages 38–40 and 10–30% over 40 Extend Fertility. A UK study covering over 300,000 cycles showed live‑birth rates of approximately 11.5% for IUI vs 27% for IVF per cycle, confirming IVF’s greater effectiveness despite its higher cost and complexity PubMed. Generally, IUI may be recommended first for younger patients with mild infertility, unexplained causes, or mild male factor issues, while IVF is advised for blocked fallopian tubes, severe male infertility, advanced maternal age, or after multiple failed IUIs.
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05 August 2025