Couples unable to bear a child or facing infertility are often confused between ici vs iui. Hence the primary step here, is to understand the difference between ICI and IUI. Ask any gynecologist near you, and you will be informed that these are different types of sperms used in fertility treatments. And depending on availability of sperms from your donor, the diagnosis and recommended treatment, the fertility specialist will recommend either of the two types.

ICI, or Intra-Cervical Insemination Sperms are…

ICI sperms are unwashed and are held together with the natural fluids. The fertility specialist may recommend them in cases where home insemination is possible and a non-surgical procedure is better suited. In other words, they are used in simple assisted insemination treatments, where the woman’s body is capable of handling the sperms, naturally. Like it happens during natural intercourse.

Like for a single woman who has donor sperms. Or a lesbian couple with donor sperms. Or for a couple facing male infertility issues and is open to donor sperms. Herein, at an at-home process, using a syringe, the donor sperm is inserted into the vagina, to be inseminated like a natural process.

So the person undertaking an ICI treatment, must monitor her ovulation cycle. And the fertility specialist may recommend certain medications to induce ovulation, if required. After the ICI sperms have been inserted, the women has to undergo a pregnancy test, within a few weeks, so as to diagnose success of the ICI procedure.

“Depending on the woman’s age, medications taken and other fertility concerns, the average success rate of an ICI treatment is 37.9 percent after six treatment cycles”

Journal of Human Reproduction

IUI, or Intrauterine Insemination Sperms

Compared to the ICI process, IUI insemination requires additional steps. Here IUI sperms are washed units, wherein the sperm cells are cleaned from the natural fluids and sent for cryopreservation. As such, the IUI sperms are used for IUI procedure and other fertility treatments like IVF too. In other words, these are processed sperms, without related natural tissues, dead tissues, and unusable sperm cells. This enables the sperms to be preserved, removes any impurities that may affect fertilization, and also provides the sperm units with optimal pH levels.

As such, the IUI sperms are in more a concentrated form, and that may increase the chances of getting pregnant. Undoubtedly, this cannot be done at home and the gynecologist near you will recommend a session at the clinic, so the sperm can be rightly placed into the uterus.

“Depending on the woman’s age, medications taken and other fertility concerns, the average success rate of an IUI treatment is 40.5 percent after six treatment cycles”

Journal of Human Reproduction

ICI vs IUI – Consult Gynecologist Near You

It is important to get the required information from your gynecoloist, as per your medical diagnosis. If you have any questions, please email to help@get-pregnant.in or don’t hesitate to give a call to +91 090750 11650.

Read more about – what is IUI – and feel free to contact the IVF specialist at AKPI Womens Hospital, Dr. Samir Pawar, for any clarifications.