IVF or artificial insemination? | GENOVA IVF

Do artificial insemination (AI) or still decide on IVF? It is this choice that often faces spouses with diagnosed infertility. Single women who want to become mothers can also face it.

How are these reproductive techniques different?

The therapeutic possibilities of artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization are different. After all, they are aimed at overcoming various problems. At the same time, artificial insemination is a technically much more complex technique and allows one to conceive a child, even for couples with severe and combined forms of infertility. But in some cases, to achieve pregnancy, it is enough to use the method of intrauterine insemination, when the sperm of a spouse or donor is traumatically introduced into the uterine cavity.

What is the difference between these methods?

• With artificial insemination, the sperm and the egg meet in their natural environment (in the fallopian tube’s lumen or the uterine cavity). And in the case of artificial insemination, this happens in the laboratory. In this case, sometimes the fusion of germ cells requires the active participation of an embryologist with the introduction of one sperm directly into the egg’s cytoplasm. This procedure is called ICSI; it is used for low sperm motility or a small number of them.
• Intrauterine insemination is carried out in the natural ovarian-menstrual cycle. In contrast, the protocol of artificial insemination in most cases includes the stage of stimulating hyperovulation and the procedure for collecting mature oocytes.
• Pregnancy after artificial insemination is, in most cases, singleton. The probability of having twins with this technique corresponds to the average. After all, artificial insemination does not affect the number of ovulating eggs. But the use of IVF often leads to multiple pregnancies because, quite often, 2-3 good embryos are transferred into the uterine cavity.
• When carrying out artificial insemination, conducting a genetic analysis of the germ cells involved in the conception or the resulting embryo is impossible. Therefore, the major chromosomal diseases are excluded mainly at routine screening examinations as pregnancy develops, and monogenic pathologies are entirely determined after the birth of a child. But with IVF, it is possible to exclude germ cells with obvious defects from participation in conception and conduct a preimplantation genetic diagnosis. This is very important with an increased risk of mutations and hereditary diseases.

Advantages and disadvantages of artificial insemination

The main advantages of IUI Treatment Lahore:

• Conception is very close to nature. After all, this procedure only helps sperm to overcome the cervical barrier and creates a sufficient concentration of sperm in the uterine cavity. All other processes proceed without any external intervention.
• Low cost and no need for multiple visits to the clinic.
• Non-traumatic. Artificial insemination is not associated with any violations of the integrity of the skin or mucous membranes and does not cause a woman apparent physical discomfort. After all, spermatozoa are introduced into the uterine cavity through a natural channel in the cervix.
• Lack of active influence on the hormonal background of a woman. Therefore, there is no need to fear any adverse reactions from the ovaries, which are possible during in vitro fertilization.

There are not so many indications for intrauterine insemination. This is the main disadvantage of the procedure. IS can be performed for cervical factors or vaginismus in a woman who does not have a heterosexual sexual partner. And the primary condition for success is the absence of other reasons that impede conception. This procedure is also advisable for sexual-ejaculatory disorders and some anatomical abnormalities in a man, the detection of anti-sperm antibodies. With other forms of infertility, it will be ineffective.

Pros and cons of in vitro fertilization

The in vitro fertilization procedure is the basis of ART. After all, it gives the doctor much more opportunities to overcome the couple’s causes of infertility. If necessary, the basic protocol is supplemented with other technologies: TESE, ICSI, assisted hatching, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Donor material is also used according to indications.
The main disadvantages of in vitro fertilization include:

• High price. This is due to the need for many high-tech and expensive manipulations and special equipment. And the services of highly qualified specialists are not free. Spouses with diagnosed infertility can undergo an IVF procedure as part of the territorial CHI program. This significantly increases the availability of this method of IVF in Pakistan treatment.
• The risk of developing various complications, the most common of which is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. In addition, in women with low follicular reserve, hyperovulation induction may increase the likelihood of early menopause. That is why you should carefully approach the choice of a clinic because a lot depends on the professionalism of the reproductologist and the competent selection of the protocol.
  It is also essential to understand that using in vitro fertilization does not mean a 100% chance of pregnancy. And the replanting of potentially viable embryos is not yet the beginning of pregnancy. After the transfer, they need to be safely implanted in the endometrium and continue to develop correctly. And in a woman’s body, processes aimed at prolonging pregnancy should start.