IUI vs. IVF — A Clear Comparison for Texas Patients
Deciding to seek fertility treatment is already a big step — and then someone hands you a menu. IUI or IVF? Two acronyms, very different experiences, and a wide gap in cost.
If you’re starting fertility treatment, the first question most patients ask is the same:
IUI or IVF?
The honest answer depends on your diagnosis, your age, your budget, and how long you’ve been trying. This page lays out the actual differences — what each treatment does, who each treatment works best for, and how to decide which is the right starting point.
At Pozitivf Fertility, we offer both IUI ($1,995 all-in) and IVF (starting at $6,995). Dr. Francisco Arredondo, our board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, will help you choose the right path based on your specific situation — not based on what’s most profitable for the clinic.
The Short Version
Choose IUI if:
- You have at least one open fallopian tube
- Your partner’s sperm count is at least 5–10 million motile after washing (or you’re using donor sperm)
- You’re under 38
- You’ve been trying naturally for less than 12 months (or less than 6 if over 35)
- Your diagnosis is unexplained infertility, mild male factor, ovulatory dysfunction, or cervical factor
Choose IVF if:
- You have blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Your partner’s sperm count is below 5 million motile (severe male factor)
- You’re 38 or older with diminished ovarian reserve
- You’ve had three or more failed IUI cycles
- You need genetic testing (PGT-A or PGT-M)
- You have endometriosis stage III–IV
How Each Treatment Works
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
IUI places washed, concentrated sperm directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation. This bypasses the cervix and shortens the distance sperm must travel to fertilize the egg.
A typical IUI cycle takes one month and involves:
1. Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork on day 2–3 of your cycle
2. Ovarian stimulation with oral or low-dose injectable medication
3. Monitoring ultrasounds to track follicle growth
4. Trigger shot to time ovulation
5. Sperm wash and insemination procedure (5–10 minutes)
6. Two-week wait
7. Beta hCG blood tests at days 14 and 16
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
IVF retrieves multiple mature eggs from the ovaries, fertilizes them with sperm in a laboratory, cultures the resulting embryos for 3–6 days, then transfers one embryo to the uterus.
A typical IVF cycle takes 4–6 weeks and involves:
1. Ovarian stimulation with higher-dose injectable medications (10–14 days)
2. Frequent monitoring ultrasounds and bloodwork
3. Egg retrieval under sedation (transvaginal procedure, 20–30 minutes)
4. Fertilization in the laboratory (often with ICSI)
5. Embryo culture for 3–6 days
6. Embryo transfer (5–10 minutes, no sedation)
7. Two-week wait
8. Beta hCG blood test
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor |
IUI |
IVF |
| Cost at Pozitivf |
$1,995 all-in |
$6,995–$16,995 |
| Published success range per cycle (under 35)¹ |
10–20% |
40–60%+ |
| Number of clinic visits |
3–5 |
6–10+ |
| Sedation required |
No |
Yes (for egg retrieval) |
| Medications |
Oral or low-dose injectable |
Higher-dose injectable gonadotropins |
| Cycle length |
~4 weeks |
~4–6 weeks |
| Lab involvement |
Sperm wash only |
Full embryology (fertilization, culture, optional genetic testing) |
| Genetic testing option |
No |
Yes (PGT-A, PGT-M) |
| Best for |
Mild diagnoses, younger patients, single parents/same-sex couples with donor sperm |
Tubal factor, severe male factor, age 38+, diminished reserve, failed IUI |
| Embryo freezing for future use |
No |
Yes |
¹
Published ranges from national SART data. Your personal success rate depends on age, diagnosis, and individual workup — Dr. Arredondo will give you a personalized estimate at your consultation.
When Is IUI Enough? When Do You Need IVF?
IUI is enough when the underlying biology gives sperm and egg a fair chance to meet on their own — and the only thing missing is timing or proximity. A 30-year-old with unexplained infertility and normal sperm counts is an excellent IUI candidate. A 32-year-old with PCOS who isn’t ovulating regularly is also a good IUI candidate (with stimulation medication).
IVF is required when the biology itself prevents natural conception:
–
Tubal disease. If both fallopian tubes are blocked or removed, sperm and egg cannot meet without bypassing the tubes entirely. IVF does this.
–
Severe male factor. When sperm counts are very low or motility is severely impaired, sperm can’t reach or fertilize the egg on their own — even with insemination. IVF with ICSI directly injects a single sperm into each egg.
–
Diminished ovarian reserve. When egg quantity or quality is declining (often after 38), IUI’s per-cycle odds are too low to be efficient. IVF retrieves multiple eggs per cycle, dramatically improving per-attempt odds.
–
Genetic conditions. PGT-A (chromosomal screening) and PGT-M (single-gene disorder testing) are only possible with IVF.
The Math on Multiple Cycles
Published IUI success rates per cycle range from 10–20% in good candidates. That sounds modest — but cumulative odds across three cycles are meaningfully higher. Most reproductive endocrinologists, including Dr. Arredondo, recommend up to three to four IUI cycles before recommending escalation to IVF.
Three IUI cycles at Pozitivf: $1,995 × 3 = $5,985
One IVF cycle at Pozitivf (Essential, no PGT-A): $6,995
The cost is comparable, but the per-attempt efficiency is different — published data generally shows IVF offering a higher per-cycle pregnancy rate than IUI for the same patient. Your individual numbers depend on age, diagnosis, and workup; Dr. Arredondo will walk you through a personalized estimate at your consultation.
For older patients or those with diagnoses unfavorable to IUI, jumping directly to IVF is often the more efficient path — both clinically and financially.
What Dr. Arredondo Looks At During Your Consultation
Before recommending IUI or IVF, Dr. Arredondo will review:
- Your age and AMH (a measure of ovarian reserve)
- Your partner’s semen analysis (concentration, motility, morphology)
- Tubal patency (open vs. blocked fallopian tubes, usually confirmed via HSG or HyFoSy)
- Ovulation pattern (regular cycles vs. anovulatory)
- Uterine anatomy (saline sonogram if not already done)
- How long you’ve been trying
- Your goals (one child vs. multiple, banking embryos, etc.)
- Your financial situation and timeline
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your consultation will give you a clear recommendation and the reasoning behind it.
Why Cost Should Be Part of the Decision
Many fertility clinics push patients to IVF earlier than necessary because IVF is more profitable per patient. Pozitivf takes a different approach: we walk through your diagnosis honestly and recommend the simplest treatment that gives you a real chance of success.
If IUI is a reasonable starting point for your situation, we will say so — even though IUI is one-third the cost of IVF. If IVF is the better path from the start, we’ll explain why and never push escalation that isn’t medically justified.
Transparent pricing at both treatment levels:
- IUI: $1,995 all-in (3 cycles ≈ $5,985)
- IVF Essential: $6,995 (medications not included)
- IVF Plus: $10,995 (medications included)
- IVF + PGT-A genetic testing: $12,995–$16,995
No insurance billing, no surprise charges, no add-on fees at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I try IUI first to save money, even if IVF would be a better fit?
Not if your diagnosis makes IUI unlikely to succeed. Doing IUI to “save money” only saves money if it works. In the wrong diagnosis, three failed IUI cycles cost the same as one IVF cycle and leave you with no embryos, no pregnancy, and no information. Dr. Arredondo will tell you honestly whether IUI is worth attempting in your case.
How many IUI cycles before moving to IVF?
Most reproductive endocrinologists recommend up to three to four cycles. After three unsuccessful cycles, the data generally supports moving to IVF for better per-cycle efficiency.
Can I freeze embryos with IVF for future children?
Yes. IVF typically produces multiple embryos, and any that aren’t transferred can be cryopreserved for future cycles. This is one of IVF’s biggest advantages — building family on your timeline.
Does Pozitivf accept insurance for IUI or IVF?
No. Pozitivf is 100% self-pay for both treatments. This eliminates insurance billing delays, claim denials, and surprise balance bills.
What if my IUI cycle gets canceled mid-cycle?
Sometimes cycles are canceled if response to medication is too strong (over-stimulation risk) or too weak. In either case, Pozitivf’s transparent pricing means you only pay for the cycle work completed, and a new cycle can start the following month.
Is IVF more painful than IUI?
IVF involves egg retrieval under sedation, which is a surgical procedure with brief recovery (a few hours of rest, normal activity by the next day). IUI involves no sedation and feels similar to a Pap smear. Both have post-procedure cramping that is manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
What success rates do you publish for IUI and IVF?
Pozitivf does not publish clinic-specific per-cycle rates because rates without full context (age, diagnosis, embryo transfer policy) can be misleading. Dr. Arredondo will give you a personalized estimate based on your specific workup during your consultation. For national benchmarks, see SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) reports.
Ready to Decide?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Francisco Arredondo at Pozitivf Fertility — San Antonio or Houston. You’ll get a clear recommendation, an honest assessment of your chances at each treatment, and a transparent quote.
Schedule Your Consultation — San Antonio or Houston
