Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a very effective procedure. Every year, this procedure helps thousands of patients conceive and give live births. However, IUI is not perfect. In many cases, patients don’t get any results even after multiple IUI treatments. That’s when experts ask patients to try In vitro fertilization (IVF).
Understanding IUI Failure
Why do most patients get IVF treatment after getting IUI? Well, couples get IUI first because of many reasons. Firstly, compared to IVF, IUI is way more affordable. IUI is also less invasive and time-consuming. Patients undergoing IUI also receive special treatments that make cycles easier to complete and boost the overall chances of success. IUI typically helps –
- Patients with inexplicable infertility issues
- Patients with mild endometriosis
- Patients with hostile cervical problems or vaginismus
- Ejaculatory dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation in male patients
The average success rate of IUI procedures is 20%. Plus, different couples respond differently to these procedures. IUI procedures typically fail because of the following factors –
- The use of low-quality eggs with chromosomal abnormalities leads to the development of feeble embryos.
- Poor quality sperm cells that aren’t robust enough to reach the fallopian tubes during the procedure.
- Ovulation-related issues (e.g., lack of ovulation) lead to no egg cells being produced for fertilisation.
- Progesterone deficiency (a hormone that’s integral to support pregnancies) in females.
- Unhealthy endometrial linings may lower the chances of the fertilised egg getting embedded in the cavity.
- The age of females. For females over the age of 35, IUI success rates drop by 15% to 20% per attempt. Every IUI procedure they undergo between the ages of 35-40 has diminishing rates of success.
In some cases, the timing of the procedure impacts its chances of success. E.g., in many cases, weak sperm cells don’t reach the fallopian tubes within 12-24 hours of ovulation. Hence, the eggs present inside the tubes disintegrate. That’s why planning and scheduling IUI procedures are so important.
The same applies to IVF procedures. Patients who have had unsuccessful IUI procedures must consult with a top IVF Centre to plan their next move. IVF experts determine the right time to try the procedure after IUI failures by assessing various factors. Here’s when these experts ask patients to consider IVF after unsuccessful IUI procedures –
When to Consider IVF after IUI Failure?
IUI is a relatively simple and non-invasive procedure. That’s why patients typically undergo two, three, or more IUI cycles before giving IVF a shot. Since IUI is relatively hassle-free, most patients don’t mind undergoing the procedure a few times. Of course, after multiple failures, patients feel dejected.
That’s when fertility specialists start discussing the option of switching to IVF. Here are some situations where fertility specialists may recommend IVF –
- The female patient is suffering from severe endometriosis. One, two, or more IUI procedures have resulted in no success.
- The male patient has severe infertility issues. For instance, males with zero sperm counts typically don’t get any success with IUI.
- The female patient’s bilateral fallopian tubes are blocked.
- The female patient has irregular periods, menopausal issues, or anovulatory cycles.
- Poor egg quality and premature ovarian failure in female patients.
In some cases, experts can’t find logical explanations behind a patient’s infertility issues. Genetic issues may be to blame for these rare conditions. Either way, patients suffering from these issues/conditions get another shot at success with IVF.
IVF After IUI
IVF and IUI are completely different procedures. In IVF, fertility experts retrieve viable eggs from the female patient in a safe, lab setting. These eggs are then fertilized in the lab. This guarantees that the sperm cells reach the eggs and kickstart the process of cellular division. In some time, the embryo is ready. They’re transferred to the female patient’s uterus.
The female patient can then carry that embryo to term. As you can see, IVF is a very intensive and intricate process. That’s why its success rates are high. The chances of live birth are also higher.
Success Rate of IVF After IUI
Age is the key determining factor in IVF success rates. Here’s the cumulative success rate of IVF procedures after IUI failure based on age –
- Females under the age of 35 – 55%
- Females between the ages of 35 & 37 – 40%
- Females between the ages of 38 & 40 – 26%
- Females between the ages of 40 & 42 – 13%
- Females over the age of 42 – 4%
As females age, their ovarian reserves diminish. In those cases, receiving eggs from donors is the only viable option. Females under 35 have a high chance of IVF success even if they fail their first cycle. The quality of the IVF Centre and the diagnoses, protocols, and techniques they use also heavily impact IVF success rates.
IVF gives hope to patients who feel dejected after having multiple IUI failures. Overall, IVF success rates are much higher than IUI.
