When couples go on the path of fertility treatments, they may have several important choices to make. For instance, some procedures may be simple and less invasive, while others involve more medical support and intervention. Therefore, to make a choice between procedures with the same goal, an extensive weighing of all the pros and cons will be required.
In this article, we shall explore one such decision that most people embarking on the path of assisted reproductive technology will have to make, which is the choice between natural and medicated IUI cycles. Let’s take a quick look at the difference between natural and medicated IUI cycles to understand their pros and cons and decide which approach may work best in different situations.
For couples who do not have any fertility issues, conception occurs when the man’s sperm can fertilise the woman’s egg during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle. The fertilisation process happens in the fallopian tube. Once it has been fertilised, the egg then travels to the uterus and gets implanted into the uterine wall.
On the other hand, couples with fertility issues may have health issues or abnormal reproductive systems that hinder the chances of successful conception and pregnancy. In such cases, it may become necessary to undergo fertility treatments like IUI.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) refers to a type of fertility treatment whereby viable sperm that have been retrieved from the male partner are placed directly into the uterus of the ovulating female partner. The chances of successful conception are higher due to this, and also because of the shortening of the distance the sperm has to travel to reach the egg.
Couples considering IUI will often have to choose between two options: natural and medicated cycles.
As stated earlier, fertility issues could be the result of various factors. These factors come into play while choosing between natural vs medicated IUI cycles. To understand the difference between these two approaches, let’s take a quick look at the relevant aspects of both.
The simplest and easiest form of IUI is the “natural” IUI cycle. Women who opt for this type of IUI procedure will not be prescribed any fertility medications, like hormone injections, to induce ovulation. The procedure will instead take place during the ovulatory phase of the woman's menstrual cycle, which normally occurs between days 12 and 16. Regular blood tests and ultrasound images will be used to precisely estimate the time of ovulation. After ovulation occurs, the prepared sperm sample will be inserted directly into the uterus.
Fertility experts recommend natural IUI when:
● The woman’s menstrual cycles are regular.
● There are no significant problems that impair the ovulation process.
● The male partner’s sperm count and quality are within a healthy range.
Let’s take a quick look at natural IUI cycle benefits:
Since natural IUI is set to coincide with the woman’s naturally occurring ovulatory phase, there is little to no need for fertility drugs. Additionally, this reduces the likelihood of adverse effects that can occasionally happen with medication use.
Since fertility drugs are not used in a natural IUI cycle, the overall treatment cost is lower.
A natural IUI cycle will not require the use of follicle-stimulating hormones. This will reduce the risk of health issues like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and even the chances of multiple pregnancies.
Despite having numerous benefits, natural IUI cycles can be disadvantageous for some women.
A natural IUI cycle is based on the woman's natural ovulation, which typically generates only one egg. Because only one egg is released, the chances of fertilisation and pregnancy are lower than in medicated cycles, where fertility medicines can stimulate the ovaries to release many eggs.
In a medicated IUI cycle, fertility medicines are used to help the ovaries release more than one mature egg. The idea is to improve the chances of fertilisation by giving the sperm more than one egg to reach.
The medicines may be in the form of tablets or injections, depending on the doctor’s opinion. The woman will undergo close monitoring throughout this procedure, including regular blood tests and scans, to assess how the ovaries are responding. When the eggs are fully mature, ovulation occurs either naturally or is triggered with hormone medications. Then the sperm will be placed into the uterus, and the fertilisation process will occur.
Fertility experts recommend medicated IUI when:
● Women have been diagnosed with hormonal imbalances that hinder ovulation.
● Couples are unable to conceive naturally despite having no obvious fertility issues.
● Couples have attempted natural cycles previously but have had no success.
Let’s take a look at the medicated IUI pros and cons to get a clearer picture:
Fertility medications improve the likelihood of fertilisation by encouraging the ovaries to release more than one mature egg. With more than one egg available, there is a greater chance that at least one will meet the sperm and result in pregnancy.
The usage of fertility drugs will lead to better management of hormone imbalances and other issues that hinder ovulation.
Medicated IUI can be especially beneficial for women who have PCOS, irregular ovulation, or unexplained infertility. This method stimulates the ovaries and encourages regular egg release, thus increasing the chances of conception for couples facing irregular natural cycles.
Now that we've understood the benefits, it's time to check out the disadvantages of medicated IUI cycles:
The use of fertility drugs could increase the chance of the occurrence of side effects.
Since medicated IUI cycles require the constant usage of fertility drugs, the overall cost of the procedure will be higher than natural IUI cycles that require no such drugs.
Now that we have examined each IUI type in detail, it’s time to answer the most important question: How to choose between natural and medicated IUI? To find the ideal kind of IUI, couples will need to keep the following points in mind:
If the woman’s cycles are regular, a natural IUI may be enough to start with. If the woman has irregular periods, then medicated IUI is preferred, as it can be used to regulate ovulation.
Women over the age of 35 are more prone to fertility issues. They may hence benefit more from a medicated IUI because it increases their chances of getting pregnant in a shorter period of time.
If there are issues like irregular ovulation, PCOS or unexplained infertility, fertility drugs can help.
Some couples prefer fewer medicines and a simple approach, while others feel better with a more controlled plan.
If earlier natural IUI cycles have not worked, a medicated cycle may be the next step.
The choice between natural and medicated IUI is an important one. It’s important to consider all the details, like past attempts, costs and health concerns, to figure out which option may work best. Talk with your fertility doctor and pick the approach that feels right for you. Having good information and support can make the journey a little easier.
A natural IUI cycle does not require the use of fertility drugs, while a medicated IUI cycle does.
Success rate depends on several factors. For women with fertility issues like irregular periods, PCOS, etc., the medicated IUI cycle offers a better success rate than the natural IUI cycle.
Natural IUI is a cost-effective option, with fewer side effects. This is because fertility drugs, like hormone-regulating medications, are not used.
Medicated IUI cycles can help women with irregular ovulation or PCOS by supporting regular egg release and improving chances of pregnancy.
