IUI vs IVF: Which Fertility Treatment Is Right for You?
Confused between IUI and IVF? Learn the differences, success rates, costs, and expert guidance from The Fertilife to decide which fertility treatment suits your journey best.
Read MoreTheFertilife offers IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) treatment in Gurgaon under the direct care of Dr. Anshika Lekhi. In IUI, prepared sperm is placed into the uterus around ovulation. It is one of the less invasive options, and one of the cheaper ones. A lot of couples with mild fertility factors try it first, before IVF comes up.
Book My IUI Consultation — Call or WhatsApp +91 9560026697 Speak directly with Dr. Lekhi's team to schedule.
"IUI works well for the right candidate, and I'll tell you clearly if you are one. What I won't do is recommend cycle after cycle of IUI when the evidence from your tests points toward IVF being the faster, more effective path — that just costs couples time they often can't spare." — Dr. Anshika Lekhi
Sperm is prepared in the lab first. A concentrated sample of the motile ones goes into the uterus through a thin catheter. The timing matters. It is done around ovulation.
Why do it this way? The sperm has less distance to cover. And it gets past a few of the natural barriers. Cervical mucus problems, mainly.
One thing to be clear on. Fertilization still happens inside the body. Not in a lab. That is where it differs from IVF. IUI helps the process along. It does not take it over.
It suits some couples and not others. The usual ones:
Some situations, it is just not the right call. Or the odds are too low to bother.
Blocked tubes, for one. If both fallopian tubes are blocked, IUI can't work. It needs at least one that is open.
Severe male-factor infertility is another. Very low count. Poor motility. Azoospermia. ICSI is usually more appropriate there.
And when the female partner has significantly diminished ovarian reserve, or is older, IVF tends to give a better chance per cycle. Advanced maternal age changes the maths quite a bit.
If you fall into one of these, Dr. Lekhi will say so. She won't run repeated IUI cycles that aren't likely to work. In some of these cases ICSI is the more sensible next step anyway.
Per cycle, it usually runs around 10 to 20%. Over 3 to 4 cycles the cumulative chance goes up somewhat, for the couples it actually suits. Age matters a lot. So does sperm quality, and the underlying cause. Rates drop after 35. They drop more with age after that.
Most specialists reassess after 3 to 4 cycles that haven't worked. Going on past that indefinitely doesn't usually help. The chance per extra cycle just doesn't keep climbing the same way.
IUI is less invasive. It costs less too. It suits mild male-factor, ovulatory, cervical, or unexplained infertility, as long as one fallopian tube is open. Per-cycle success is lower than IVF.
IVF does the fertilization in the lab. It is the better fit for blocked tubes, or significant male-factor infertility, or diminished ovarian reserve. Also after IUI cycles that haven't worked. Per-cycle success is higher. The cost is higher to match.
There isn't one that's simply better. It depends on what your own evaluation shows.
Across Gurgaon clinics, an IUI cycle usually costs somewhere between ₹8,000 and ₹25,000. A natural-cycle IUI sits at the lower end. A stimulated cycle with injectable medication and extra monitoring costs more. Whether monitoring, medication, and baseline testing are bundled or billed separately also moves the number. So the accurate figure really depends on your protocol.
IUI candidacy and protocol depend on your individual test results, and this page can't determine them for you — Dr. Lekhi confirms suitability during your consultation.
Bring your fertility test results if you have them. Or just start with a consultation. Dr. Lekhi will confirm whether IUI is genuinely the right next step for your situation before recommending it.
Book My IUI Consultation — Call or WhatsApp +91 95600 26697 No referral needed. Speak directly with Dr. Lekhi's team to schedule.
MBBS | MS (Obstetrics & Gynecology) | Fertility & IVF Specialist
The health information on this website is reviewed by Dr. Anshika Lekhi, an experienced Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Fertility Specialist, to help ensure medical accuracy, relevance, and adherence to current clinical practices. Our goal is to provide reliable educational information that empowers patients while encouraging consultation with qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice.
This review helps maintain high editorial standards while supporting informed healthcare decisions.
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