North Houston IVF Versus IUI at Our Fertility Clinic

If you’ve decided to start the fertility process, you may be curious about the options available at our North Houston fertility clinic. The two most popular treatments our patients undergo on their quest for a successful pregnancy are in vitro fertilization, or IVF, and intrauterine insemination, or IUI. Understanding these procedures and knowing which one is right for you is an important step in the fertility process, as there are key differences between the two.

What is North Houston IVF? 

In-vitro Fertilization is a procedure in which a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm outside of the body. If you undergo Kingwood IVF or The Woodlands IVF, you will take medication that stimulates the ovaries to produce more eggs before they are retrieved and introduced to the sperm in a lab. Upon successful fertilization, the resulting embryo is then placed back inside the woman’s uterus where it will ideally implant, resulting in pregnancy. 

The IVF process is performed with sedation and occurs over the course of two separate visits to our North Houston fertility clinic: the first to retrieve the eggs and the second to implant the fertilized embryo(s) once they have reached the proper stage of development.  

What is IUI?

Intrauterine Insemination is a simple procedure in which previously collected sperm is “washed” (removing seminal fluid and selecting the motile, or moving, sperm) and then inserted high into the uterine cavity, increasing the chances of the sperm reaching the egg. In this procedure, fertilization occurs inside the body. If this occurs successfully, then the fertilized egg would then implant in the lining of the uterus and ideally result in pregnancy. Like IVF, IUI is completed in our office but does not require sedation.

Which Treatment is Right For Me?

Deciding between IUI and IVF at our North Houston fertility clinic depends upon a number of factors. IUI is considerably less expensive and less invasive, but has a lower success rate. Kingwood IVF and The Woodlands IVF, on the other hand, are more likely to result in a successful pregnancy, especially for those suffering from severe fertility issues. Both procedures include a regimen of fertility-boosting drugs to increase ovulation and, thereby, chances of conception. Many of our patients choose to undergo IUI before IVF, but that is not always the case. In order to be a good candidate for IUI in our North Houston fertility clinic, you must have working ovaries and fallopian tubes, viable eggs, and there need to be enough motile sperm to reach the egg. Those who are not good candidates for IUI will need to consider IVF instead.

Our North Houston Fertility Clinic Is Here To Guide You On Your Fertility Journey

If you’d like to learn which fertility treatment is right for you, call us today to schedule an appointment. Our specialists can help you determine whether you should consider Kingwood IVF, The Woodlands IVF, or IUI based upon your individual needs and circumstances. We’d be honored to guide you in your journey to parenthood!