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Infertility treatment in modern medicine allows so many individuals and couples to realize their dreams of parenthood. Like most medical fields, fertility treatment has its own language, often complicated or highly technical. Acronyms are also a favorite in today's infertility medical lingo. To help decipher the terminology of 21st-century infertility medicine, we've compiled an "old school" favorite: A glossary of common terms and acronyms.

Glossary of Infertility Terms and Acronyms

We've listed the items here in alphabetical order. Acronyms appear in their commonly used form, followed by the full term the set of letters represents.

Agglutination

Describes an event in which sperm clump together, making it difficult for them to swim easily. Sperm agglutination is a possible indication of immunological infertility, which makes it an important factor to consider in forming an infertility diagnosis.

AI (Artificial Insemination)

A procedure that deposits sperm near the cervix in the vagina or directly into the uterus using a catheter.

Amenorrhea

The complete absence of menstrual periods.

Anovulation

A complete absence of ovulation.

ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies)

ARTs are various procedures used to combat infertility in which conception occurs without sexual intercourse.

ART Cycle

A process that includes an ART procedure, stimulation of the ovaries, or frozen embryos that are thawed for transfer into a woman. This process starts when a woman begins fertility medications or monitors her ovaries for follicle production.

BBT (Basal Body Temperature)

A temperature reading taken every day that can be used to chart ovulation.

Beta HCG Test

This blood test detects very early pregnancies and can help evaluate embryonic development.

Cryopreservation

This freezing process preserves embryos, sperm, and other tissues at very low temperatures. When embryos are not utilized in an ART cycle, they can be cryopreserved for potential use in the future.

DEIVF (Donor Egg In Vitro Fertilization)

An in vitro fertilization procedure in which the egg used is procured from a donor.

Donor Egg

Also known as egg donation, this term describes the donation of an egg from one woman to another. The goal is to become pregnant by in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Donor Embryo

Describes an embryo donated by a couple who previously had ART treatment that resulted in the creation of extra embryos. When donated, all parental rights of the donor couple are relinquished.

Embryologists

Professionals who specialize in advanced laboratory techniques to prepare and provide the conditions necessary for the fertilization of eggs. These specialists facilitate the development, growth, maturation, and preservation of embryos.

Fertility Specialist

A physician who specializes in treating fertility problems. These physicians receive certification in a subspecialty for OB-GYNs from the American Board of Obstetrics after obtaining extra training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Gestation

This term refers to the period of development the fetus undergoes in the uterus from conception to birth, usually 40 weeks' duration.

Gestational Surrogate / Gestational Carrier / Gestational Surrogacy

Arrangement in which a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy on behalf of another individual or couple (the intended parents). In Gestational Surrogacy, embryos are created using the egg of the intended parent (or an egg donor) and the sperm of an intended parent (or a sperm donor). Gestational Carriers (surrogates) do not have any biological relation to the resulting baby.

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

A hormone produced in early pregnancy that's released from the placenta after implantation. It can be employed via injection to trigger ovulation after certain types of fertility treatments. In men, it can stimulate testosterone production.

‍ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

This procedure retrieved eggs and sperm from both partners. In a laboratory, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg, and the fertilized egg is then implanted into the woman's uterus.

Idiopathic Infertility

A term applied when the cause of infertility remains unexplained.

Implantation

This occurs when a fertilized egg embeds itself in the uterus lining.

Infertility

Inability to conceive following a year of unprotected intercourse, or six months in women over age 35.

IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)

Less frequently, it can stand for intra-uterine injection or intra-uterine infection. Intra-uterine insemination is a procedure for treating infertility. The sperm is washed, then concentrated before being placed directly in the uterus when the ovary releases one or more eggs.

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

A complex procedure for treating infertility in which mature eggs are retrieved from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab.

Microinsemination

In this laboratory procedure, sperm is injected next to an egg cell surface in a laboratory dish. This is done to increase the chances of fertilization.

PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Testing)

A screening technique used to evaluate the chromosomal makeup of an IVF embryo and whether the embryo contains genetic abnormalities.

Postcoital Test

In this standard fertility test, a sample of cervical mucus is taken from the woman after intercourse to determine the number and behavior of sperm. Cervical mucus is an accurate reflection of the ovarian cycle, the PC test is an invaluable indicator of the endocrine preparation of the female reproductive system.         

Reproductive Endocrinologist

Highly trained Obstetrician-Gynecologist with advanced education, research, and skills in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. 

Secondary Infertility

Infertility lasting six months or more in a couple who previously had a successful pregnancy and birth.

Sperm Bank

A facility that specializes in the collection and freezing of sperm, preserving it to be used later by a couple or donated for use in assisting others with infertility.

Sperm Count

The number of active sperm in an ejaculate sample. Normally, the sperm count ranges from 15 million sperm to more than 200 million sperm.

Sperm Motility

The percentage of sperm in an ejaculate that moves forward.

Surrogacy

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy is sometimes called "straight surrogacy," "partial surrogacy," or "genetic surrogacy." It involves a legal agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate. In this scenario, the surrogate is the biological mother of the baby. The surrogate's own eggs are fertilized using a sperm donor or the intended father. Intended mothers do not have a genetic link to the baby in traditional surrogacy. IHR does not work with traditional surrogates, only gestational surrogates. 

Gestational Surrogacy

A gestational surrogate carries and delivers a baby for another person or couple. Gestational surrogate pregnancies are achieved through IVF. In this procedure, an embryo is created in a lab using the egg and sperm from the intended parents, or donor eggs and sperm may be used. The embryo is then transferred to the uterus of the gestational surrogate. Because the gestational carrier carrying the pregnancy doesn't provide an egg, there is no genetic connection between the child and the surrogate.       

TTC (Trying to Conceive)

Considered slang, this acronym is generally used as a form of shorthand in notes, in online communities, and on social media. Often seen as a hashtag: #TTC.

Ultrasound

A testing procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to view the ovaries, uterus, and the developing fetus.

Vaginal Ultrasound

This procedure is performed through a probe inserted into the vagina. It allows the viewing of the follicles, fetus, and other soft tissues by using sound waves. Imaging the structures in the pelvis with ultrasound can identify abnormalities and help diagnose conditions.

Make the Call

Are you ready to explore the possibilities for growing your family? Request a consultation with the specialists at Reproductive Gynecology & Fertility, your premiere source for comprehensive, advanced, experienced fertility care. 

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Approximately one in ten couples struggle with infertility. In fact, infertility can affect women of any age, and from any background. If you’ve been trying to conceive for more than 12 consecutive months (6 months for women over age 35) without success, your primary care physician may refer you to a specialized fertility center for diagnostic testing and potential medication or services.

Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility (RGI) offers every available fertility treatment with unsurpassed expertise—to give you the child of your dreams. Our treatment plans are individualized to your specific needs to ensure you’re getting the exact treatment or procedure you need.

Fertility services at RGI

When you choose RGI, you’re maximizing your chances of having a child with leading-edge fertility capabilities, such as:

• Evaluation & Diagnosis
  Our thorough fertility testing capabilities examines everything from ovulation cycles and uterine health to body weight and possible infections. We also provide on-site male fertility testing for maximum convenience and peace of mind. Once we have a diagnosis, we’ll help you determine the next best step in your fertility journey.
• Fertility Surgery
  For many women, surgery is one of the most effective methods of improving fertility. The skilled RGI fertility specialists and surgical gynecologists can perform any leading edge, minimally invasive procedure you need.
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
  We use IVF to help with the trickiest aspects of pregnancy (fertilization and implantation) and to optimize your chance of success. We also combine IVF treatment with advanced techniques, like pre-implantation genetic screening & diagnosis, to improve your chance of having a healthy baby.

Get started on your fertility journey with RGI

We have outstanding IVF success rates for both fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles. However, we’re proud to offer the first IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan in Northeast and Central Ohio. It’s our goal to help you have a baby—or we’ll refund every penny.

Contact Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility for leading-edge fertility services in Columbus, Akron, Canton and Youngstown, Ohio, and maximize your chance of having a child.

Infertile families who choose IVF and achieve a healthy pregnancy may have additional embryos once they’ve finished growing their family. Many of these couples choose to donate their unused embryos to another person or couple for implantation. This helps other infertile families grow and supports the life of the embryo.

Today, there are an estimated one million frozen embryos in the United States and approximately 6.1 million infertile American women.

Embryo donation success rates

The average pregnancy success rate using embryo donation is high. The embryo donation success rate for pregnancy is slightly higher than standard IVF implantation success rates. This is likely because the donated or adopted embryos have undergone preimplantation genetic testing. Preimplantation genetic testing is a procedure used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within the embryo.

Five reasons to choose embryo donation

The skilled doctors at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility want to ensure you understand all aspects of embryo donation and how it can help you grow your family. Here are our top five reasons to choose embryo donation:

• Most agencies and fertility clinics have embryos readily available.
• It allows the intended mother to enjoy the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
• It can be less expensive than egg donation.
• The embryo is already created, reducing a step in the IVF process.
• Embryo donation maintains neutrality regarding the genetic connection to the child, which is important to some couples.

If you are a women aged 25-40 and have gone through unsuccessful IVF treatment, you are not alone. The skilled physicians at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility want to help you achieve your dream of growing a family with help from embryo donation—the success rates speak for themselves. Call us at 866-537-2461.

Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility in Cleveland helps you maximize your chances of having a child with leading-edge fertility services. We’ll provide you with the exact fertility treatment and preservation technique you need to optimize your fertility.

Whether you want to preserve your fertility before starting cancer treatments, delay starting a family until your career is on track or you’ve found your life partner, we can help.

Five fertility treatments and services that can change your life

Here are five ways Cleveland reproductive medicine can change your life forever:

1. In vitro fertilization (IVF)
   Imagine your home full of joy and love only a child can bring. IVF is a treatment in which a woman’s egg is fertilized with sperm in a laboratory setting. It can help your dreams of having a baby come true.
2. Fertility surgery
   Fertility surgery can help you overcome many sources of infertility like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, PCOS or blocked fallopian tubes. The board-certified physicians at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility are highly skilled in minimally invasive surgical techniques that may, in some cases, allow you to conceive naturally.
3. Egg donor program
   Whether you’re interested in becoming an egg donor or exploring fertility treatments using donor eggs, our skilled physicians are dedicated to safe, effective fertility care you can trust.
4. Embryo donation
   if you’ve gone through the IVF process and have additional embryos, you may choose to freeze them for later use or donate them to help another couple conceive.
5. Egg Cryopreservation
   There are many reasons women choose to store their eggs. Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility is proud to have achieved successes where others have not. We provide individual infertility solutions with the utmost compassion, convenience and commitment.

If you’re looking for the best in Cleveland reproductive medicine, look no further than the experienced, compassionate professionals at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility. Take the next step in your fertility journey by giving us a call at 866-537-2461 to schedule an initial consultation.

At Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility we offer advanced fertility services like embryo adoption. Some parents have healthy, viable embryos remaining after in vitro fertilization. While many choose to cryopreserve their eggs for future use, some opt to donate their embryos to give them a chance for life. This provides other women the opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of pregnancy, labor and delivery.

Advantages of embryo adoption

If you are unable to conceive naturally and have experienced fertility issues using your own eggs, it may be time to explore embryo adoption. Here are a few unique advantages of embryo adoption:

1. Embryo adoption allows women to experience pregnancy and childbirth
   For some, the ability to experience the joys and challenges of pregnancy, labor and delivery are important steps toward becoming a mother.
2. Embryo adoption allows parents to begin bonding with their child immediately
   The opportunity to begin the bonding process in utero can be a precious gift for adopting couples.
3. Embryo adoption gives parents the ability to control the prenatal experience

This option allows the intended parents to choose a doctor to oversee the pregnancy and prenatal care. It will also ensure their baby is receiving a healthy diet and lifestyle.

4. Embryo adoption is less expensive and faster than other types of adoption
   The cost of adopting an embryo is about 50 percent less than adopting an infant. In fact, it is often less expensive than one IVF cycle.
5. Embryo adoption gives embryos a chance to have a life

Is embryo adoption right for me?

If you’ve experienced one or more unsuccessful IVF treatments and your doctor does not believe additional fresh cycles will be successful, embryo adoption might be right for you. Embryo adoption may also be right if you (or your partner) carry a genetic disease you do not want to pass on to your child.

If you’d like to learn more about embryo adoption, IVF or other leading-edge fertility treatments call the skilled physicians at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility at 866-537-2461.

April is National Infertility Awareness Month, and the fertility specialists at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility (RGI) wanted to share what happens when we get to meet the babies we help create.

Thrilled. Happy. Joyful.

These are just some of the words that come to mind when a baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) comes back to RGI for a visit. While we’ve known this little person since it was an impossibly tiny embryo, our eyes soften as we marvel at their tiny fingers and toes. It’s a special moment filled with heartfelt congratulations and well wishes. It’s also a very welcome reminder of why we do what we do.

“It brings me so much joy to reconnect with patients after they give birth. The RGI IVF process itself is highly personalized and gives me the opportunity to really get to know people, learn intimate details about their fertility struggles and help grow the family of their dreams. Meeting the baby is incredibly rewarding. I love to watch couples transform from disheartened to joyful—and so in love with their new little boy or girl.”

Is IVF right for me?

Unfortunately, infertility is very common, occurring in approximately 1 in 8 couples. The fertility specialists at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility understand the emotional and physical toll fertility issues can take on people—and relationships. If you’ve been trying to conceive for 12 consecutive months, you might want to consider treatments like IVF. IVF is a safe and effective process of fertilization in which an egg is combined with a sperm outside of the body.

How much does IVF cost?

If you and your partner meet all of the IVF qualifications, each fresh embryo cycle can cost approximately $25,000. We understand a financial burden can make an already stressful situation worse. That’s why we created the IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan; we wanted to eliminate the stress of success. RGI is the first and only practice in Northeast and Central Ohio to offer a plan that shares the financial risk with IVF patients.

Our IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan means that we guarantee you’ll take home a baby or we’ll refund every penny.

“Scientific evidence confirms that stress and fertility go hand in hand. We want to help manage the emotional stress as well as the fertility of our patients. With the IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan, we can help ease the financial burden so our patients can focus on their mental and physical wellness during their fertility journey.”

How can I afford IVF?

There are many insurance plans that can help lower your costs—and financial risk. However, we are proud have an exclusive partnership with Samantha’s Gift of Hope, a quarterly monetary award intended for those who are already a part of RGI’s IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan in the Northeast Ohio office locations.

If you’d like to learn more about RGI, our IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan or applying for a Samantha’s Gift of Hope grant, please call 866-537-2461. We can’t wait to help grow your happily ever after… and marvel at your new baby girl or boy. There is hope, and we can help.

About 1 in 8 couples in the United States experiences infertility. This number might seem high, but considering how many things need to go perfectly suitable to conceive, it’s not surprising.

There are many reasons why an individual or couple might have a hard time becoming pregnant, including factors related to ovarian health and egg quality, sperm quality (concentration, motility, shape), uterine health, and more.

For those having trouble conceiving, there are various options to seek or utilize that can help you get pregnant, some of which you can even begin to pursue on your own, like making changes to your diet and lifestyle to optimize your body for pregnancy. You can also work with your current OB/GYN or Primary Care Physician (PCP) to start with preliminary testing, such as basic ovarian reserve testing and a referral for a semen analysis.

For many looking into fertility treatments, two options become top choices to consider pursuing: intrauterine insemination (or IUI) and in vitro fertilization (or IVF).

For people struggling to conceive, an initial evaluation with a fertility specialist can help identify the root cause of infertility and factors that may be creating challenges. Reproductive Endocrinologists have extensive training and experience in evaluating problems that can interfere with conception — such as egg, sperm, uterine, or implantation issues — and are therefore best able to guide patients in choosing which treatments are best for them.

IUIs should be performed by a medical professional trained to do them. In most cases, IUIs are used in conjunction with medicated (oral pills) treatment cycles. IVF is a more involved treatment and should only be managed by an experienced reproductive endocrinologist (REI).

Below we’ll look at what IUI and IVF entail, the pros and cons of both treatments, and knowing which one is the right option for you.

What Is IUI?

IUI stands for intrauterine insemination. It involves having sperm injected into the uterus around the time of ovulation. This is done to bypass any potential cervical issues and decrease the sperm’s travel time to the egg and increase the likelihood of fertilization happening.

For whom is IUI a good option? It’s typically one of the first fertility treatments recommended for patients who have not gotten pregnant on their own within about six months to one year of trying depending on age. It’s a great option for those dealing with hormonal and fertility issues such as:

• Anovulation (lack of ovulation without help from medication)
• PCOS
• Cervical mucus problems
• Sperm quality issues
• It can also help same-sex couples using donor sperm, single mothers using donor sperm, and sometimes couples with unexplained infertility.

You might also hear IUI referred to as artificial insemination. IUI involves the sperm first being “washed” to increase its potency, then being delivered directly to the uterus.

“Washing” sperm means that a sperm sample is first collected, and then the sperm are separated to sort healthy, motile (swimming) sperm from the less healthy sperm and seminal fluid. Only the best quality sperm is used during an IUI; this way, there’s the greatest chance of the sperm being able to reach and penetrate the egg.

It’s essential that the individual is ovulating or just about to ovulate when IUI is performed because this is the only time that a person can get pregnant. Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from an ovary to begin its journey down the fallopian tubes, at which point it can be fertilized.

Before an IUI is performed, a doctor monitors the individual to track the timing of their cycle and ensure they are ovulating. Monitoring can be done using an ultrasound, which looks at egg follicles within ovaries, and sometimes with bloodwork.

Here are the basic steps involved in an IUI cycle:

• The IUI cycle begins on the first day of a person’s period and the egg(s) mature inside the ovaries for about the next two weeks leading to ovulation.
• Some people will take medications to encourage ovulation during this period. For example, medications (such as oral meds like Clomid or Letrozole or injectable hormone medications called gonadotropins) can be used to stimulate more eggs to mature and be released.
• In most cases, the IUI will take place on the day of ovulation or sometimes the day prior. This is determined using monitoring. A “trigger shot” might also be used to time ovulation since this medication induces ovulation within about 36 hours.
• A sperm sample from either a partner or a donor will be provided to the doctor’s office, then washed.
• The doctor/practitioner will insert the washed sperm sample into the uterus using a thin catheter. This is primarily painless and only takes a couple of minutes.
• After the IUI, the person will lay down and relax for about 10 minutes, and then they are free to leave the doctor’s office and go about their day. Hopefully, at this point, fertilization takes place.

What are the advantages of IUI?

Below are some of the main advantages of IUI:

• Less invasive and less expensive compared to IVF. A typical IUI cycle can cost about $1000 (depending on your insurance), while IVF can cost $20,000 per cycle.

• IUI Deposits the best quality sperm possible close to where the egg is waiting, which increases the chances of becoming pregnant in comparison to conceiving through intercourse.
• Uses monitoring to ensure that insemination happens at the time of ovulation.
• IUI cycles can either use medications or not, depending on the specific situation. Those who have difficulties ovulating, such as those with irregular periods or PCOS, can use medications to help release more mature eggs.
• Not using ovulation medication can help lower the cost. This is a good approach for those who ovulate regularly or who are using donor sperm.

Who performs IUIs?

IUIs cannot be performed at home without proper processing and washing of seminal fluid; however, some people may try intravaginal or intracervical inseminations at home, with significantly less success. Most often, people choose to see a medical professional for the procedure. OB/GYNs can perform IUI, which means patients may be able to work with their previous provider if they prefer (only reproductive endocrinologists can perform IVF, however).

That being said, patients often choose to work with a fertility specialist or an REI for an IUI because an REI can perform thorough tests prior to an IUI in order to gain more advanced knowledge of a patient’s fertility status and obstacles.

Specialists typically have cutting-edge technology and equipment and are capable of uncovering a great deal of information about the quality of one’s sperm, eggs, anatomy, menstrual patterns, and so on, which can help increase success with IUI.

How successful is IUI?

IUI is said to have “modest results” in terms of success, meaning it isn’t guaranteed to work and isn’t necessarily more successful than two healthy people having intercourse.

In best-case scenarios, it’s successful about 7% to 20% of the time per IUI cycle, depending on the woman’s age. If a couple tries IUI several times and does not have severe damage to fallopian tubes and has decent quality sperm, they may have a 50% chance of getting pregnant with up to six rounds of IUI.

Overall, success rates depend on the couple’s age, the timing of the procedure, and the health of the eggs and sperm. Individuals younger than 35 tend to have more success with IUI than those over 35 to 40 years old.

Are there any side effects of IUI?

IUI typically doesn’t hurt, although it may feel a bit uncomfortable. Some people experience mild cramping during the procedure. Afterward, it’s okay for the person to resume normal activities, as they’re unlikely to feel any significant side effects.

Side effects can be more noticeable if medications are being taken. For example, ovulation medications can sometimes cause temporary bloating, cramping, water retention, and breast pain.

There’s also a higher likelihood of having multiples (twins or triplets) if using gonadotropin medications with IUI since these drugs can cause multiple eggs to be released and potentially fertilized.

What Is IVF?

IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. It’s a fertility treatment that fertilizes eggs with sperm in a lab (“in vitro” refers to a process performed in a laboratory culture dish instead of inside the body).

IVF is one type of artificial reproductive technology (or ART). IVF aims to stimulate the ovaries to mature as many healthy eggs as possible in a given cycle in order to create embryos. In the majority of cases patients pursuing IVF choose to utilize genetic testing, which entails a few cells being removed from the embryos for testing prior to freezing. Through genetic testing, your REI physician will be able to dramatically increase the likelihood that the embryo being transferred into the uterus is genetically healthy and increase the liklihood of getting pregnant. There are many reasons individuals or couples choose to pursue IVF when growing their family, including various causes of infertility, wanting to utilize genetic testing on embryos, or moving on from other fertility treatments that have been unsuccessful.

The entire IVF process can usually occur within three months. Medications are first used to help eggs inside the ovaries mature, then as many eggs as possible are removed from the body with help from an egg retrieval procedure. The mature eggs are then mixed with a sperm sample in a lab (called insemination), hopefully facilitating fertilization and embryo formation. In frozen embryo cycles, embryos are then frozen to allow for the woman’s body to return to normal after stimulation within a few weeks. The final step is the frozen embryo transfer which occurs after the uterus is primed with estrogen and progesterone for approximately three weeks. In this minor painless procedure, an embryo is released inside the uterus with the aid of ultrasound guidance.

To summarize the steps above, a cycle of IVF includes several steps:

• Ovarian stimulation using injectable medications.
• Egg retrieval from the ovaries.
• Fertilization of retrieved eggs using a semen sample within a laboratory.​​
• Optional but recommended preimplantation genetic testing of embryos prior to freezing them.
• Uterine lining preparation.
• Transfer of the fertilized embryo back into the uterus using a thin tube through the cervix under ultrasound guidance
• Then hopefully, pregnancy occurs!

There are several additional treatment options available with IVF, including using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (or ICSI), Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), or using donor eggs, donor sperm, or a gestational carrier (surrogate). Including any of these options into your treatment plan will all depend on the couple’s specific needs.

Who is IVF best suited for? Depending on the factors contributing to infertility, IVF may be the best choice and recommended as the primary treatment plan due to its significantly higher success rates than IUI. However, less aggressive initial attempts with IUI cycles would also be appropriate in many situations due to its less invasive and costly nature. In general, IVF would be a good first choice for those with the following conditions:

• Damaged, blocked, or absent fallopian tubes (the procedure bypasses the fallopian tubes, where ovulation typically takes place).
• Poor sperm quality (it can be successful even with very little healthy sperm, as explained more below).
• Prolonged unexplained infertility.
• Problems with ovulation that are not being solved with other treatments.
• Severe endometriosis
• A genetic disorder that can be passed down to offspring.

IVF With ICSI:

ICSI is a procedure only available during IVF and cannot be performed with an IUI. It involves having a single healthy sperm be injected into a mature, retrieved egg. Research shows ICSI typically fertilizes between 50% to 80% of eggs. ICSI is often recommended as a good option when undergoing IVF treatment if:

• The partner produces too few sperm to do IUI or traditional IVF (in which 50,000 sperm are used to inseminate a retrieved egg).
• Sperm aren’t motile, or sperm have trouble attaching to or penetrating the thick outer layer of the egg.
• There’s a blockage in the reproductive tract that is preventing sperm from exiting.
• Traditional IVF fertilization has not worked for unknown reasons.
• Eggs that were previously frozen are being used.

What are the advantages of IVF?

Below are some of the main advantages of IVF:

• Considered the most potent fertility treatment, it can help couples get pregnant when other options cannot.
• It can help address reproductive issues related to both egg and sperm providers, including egg and sperm health and problems with the cervix and fallopian tubes.
• It can help treat age-related infertility and prolonged unexplained infertility, which often lead to unsuccessful treatment with  IUI.
• It offers the option of using ICSI, which IUI does not.
• It offers the option of using genetic testing, which IUI does not. This reduces concerns regarding certain genetic disorders since embryos can be tested before being implanted to identify genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities.
• It offers the option of storing embryos to be used and transferred at another time.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing:

One of the significant advantages of IVF is that it allows for genetic testing of embryos, including for inherited familial diseases, which IUI and other fertility options do not.

Called Preimplantation Genetic Testing (or PGT), this type of testing is performed to identify if embryos have a specific genetic or chromosomal condition. This way, those embryos are not transferred to the uterus, and the defect is not passed onto the offspring. The goal is to ensure that healthy embryos are transferred to the uterus in order to sustain a pregnancy and result in a healthy baby.

PGT also helps address the fact that one of the most common reasons embryos do not transfer and result in pregnancies is because of abnormal embryo genetic factors.

PGT may be recommended for couples or patients with a history of single-gene disorders, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia, or sex-linked disorders, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Fragile X syndrome.

How successful is IVF?

IVF now accounts for up to 4.5% of all live births in the United States and Europe.

The chances of getting pregnant with help from IVF ultimately depend on a number of factors, including age and overall health status, the underlying reason for infertility, and how many healthy embryos were created.

Like with IUI, IVF is most successful when the person providing eggs is younger than 35 to 40 years old and generally healthy. Overall, women between 30 and 40 have about a 40% to 50% chance of IVF working depending on several factors, and however, with the advent of PGT testing, a genetically normal embryo would have an approximately 70% chance of resulting in a healthy pregnancy in a high-quality fertility clinic.

Are there any side effects?

IVF involves using medications that can cause side effects, such as bloating, nausea, water retention, headaches, and mood swings. These are temporary and usually last about one week or so.

The egg retrieval procedure is performed under anesthesia and takes approximately 15-20 minutes. After the process, there may be some mild discomfort, including cramping, swollen ovaries, light bleeding, and tenderness. Following IVF, patients should avoid anything too strenuous, or that involves twisting of the ovaries.

Depending on the medications used in the IVF stimulation, there may also exist a minimal risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, which is a condition that can cause the ovaries to become temporarily swollen and painful, and in very rare circumstances, requires fluid to be removed from the abdomen.

IUI Vs. IVF: Which Is Right For You?

There’s a lot to consider when deciding between IUI and IVF, including the cost, invasiveness, time commitment, use of medications, potential side effects, and success rates.

An IVF cycle is more involved, invasive, and expensive than an IUI cycle; however, it can also be significantly more successful when IUI and medications are not.

If you’re dealing with infertility, your provider will help guide you through the process.

Your fertility provider will run tests to determine things like your egg and sperm quality and then be able to advise you on options that are most likely to be successful. Because every infertility situation is unique and complex, it’s best to listen to your provider’s recommendations regarding your treatment plan.

Is it worth trying IUI before IVF?

You and your doctor together can review your current health status and the specific conditions you’re facing to determine if IUI should be performed first or if it is in your best interest to move directly to IVF as your first-line treatment choice.

In many cases, if appropriate, your physician may recommend trying up to three cycles (sometimes up to six) of medicated IUI before moving onto IVF, assuming there are no significant obstacles that can interfere with IUI being successful. Sometimes certain insurance companies will require this before paying for IVF.

Some doctors may suggest that women in their 40s only try IUI once or twice before going to IVF, or even that they go straight to IVF to not waste time.

How do you know if you should do IUI first or go straight to IVF?

According to fertility experts, here is when to consider IUI before moving on to IVF:

• Try IUI first if your infertility is mainly related to ovulation issues. This includes individuals with PCOS or other forms of anovulation, plus cervical mucus problems.
• If the partner providing sperm has moderate sperm health issues but is still producing healthy amounts of sperm, try IUI first.
• Same-sex couples and single parents trying to conceive with donor sperm can also try IUI first.
• If the egg provider is under 35 or between 35 and 40 with no significant known fertility issues, IUI is typically done before IVF.

IVF may be a better option if 3-6 IUI cycles have been unsuccessful, or if the individual providing eggs or carrying the pregnancy is in their 40s, there is very little good quality sperm, or if there are known problems with uterine or fallopian tube function.

Family planning is another crucial element to consider when deciding where to start. If more than one child is desired, and advanced female age is one of the issues, IVF may be the best option in order to provide ample opportunity for fertility preservation through embryo creation. This future planning can allow individuals and couples to build the family of their dreams instead of enduring a long fertility journey that results in a significant decrease in the chance of additional successful cycles and future children.

Don’t forget to discuss these issues with your trusted REI so they can guide you appropriately.