Choosing sperm donation to start growing your family is a great choice because it gives you options in the way you’d like to proceed with the pregnancy. Once you’ve chosen your sperm donor, you then have the option of going with IUI, also known as interauterine insemination, or IVF, also known as in vitro fertilization, each with its own benefits. Read on to learn more:
Interauterine insemination, or IUI, is a fertility treatment that is less invasive compared to IVF. With IUI, there is an increased chance of fertilization. IUI is also referred to as donor insemination or artificial insemination. During ovulation, the donated sperm is placed in the uterus. Ideally, the sperm will swim to the fallopian tube and fertilizate the egg. Individuals and couples may choose IUI for various reasons including:
• Infertility issues: a heterosexual couple may be facing male infertility issues
• LGBTQ+ community members looking to start a family
• Single women: a woman without a partner may choose sperm donation and IUI to have a child on her own
Before the fertility process begins, you will choose your sperm donor. A donor can be someone you know or you can use the services of a sperm bank. At Cascade Cryobank, we screen our donors regularly to make sure that you are getting healthy sperm from a healthy donor.
The process of IUI requires planning as a number of steps are involved, including ovarian stimulation, triggering ovulation, sperm preparation, and finally insemination. Success rates can vary depending on a number of factors such as fertility issues and age. IUI is also a less expensive option, compared to IVF. IUI can cost around $500-$4,000 per cycle, whereas IVF can cost $12,000-$20,000.
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a fertility treatment where a woman’s eggs are retrieved from her ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg is then transferred into the uterus to develop. IVF is an option for starting a family for those who are facing fertility issues or cannot conceive on their own, such as those in the LGBTQ+ community or single women. IVF success rates can vary greatly. Women under the age of 35 seem to have the highest success rate.
Approximately 50-55% of live births per embryo transfer are seen. At 30 – 40 years old the rate drops to about 25% and over 42 years of age is around 4%. When choosing this method for starting a family, the individual or couple will start by choosing their sperm donor, just like the IUI process. A unique option when it comes to IVF is called reciprocal IVF, a method where one female partner provides the egg and the other female partner carries the pregnancy.
Whether you choose IUI or IVF for your fertility treatment, your journey to parenthood begins with choosing the perfect sperm donor for your family.
Cascade Cryobank, located in Lynnwood Washington, helps you grow your family with quality donor sperm derived from a selective screening process.
