Artificial insemination is one of the most common first steps couples and individuals take when starting fertility treatment. If you’ve heard the term and aren’t sure exactly what it involves, you’re not alone. Here’s a plain-language look at what artificial insemination is, how the procedure works, and how to think about it alongside other options like IVF.
Artificial insemination most often refers to intrauterine insemination, or IUI. During IUI, a prepared sample of sperm is placed directly into the uterus using a thin, flexible catheter, timed to coincide with ovulation. The goal is to shorten the distance sperm need to travel to reach the egg, which may improve the odds of fertilization compared with sperm needing to travel the full distance from intercourse.
IUI can use a partner’s sperm or donor sperm, which makes it a common option for LGBTQ+ family builders, single people building a family, and couples with mild male-factor infertility, unexplained infertility, or cervical mucus issues. If your path to parenthood involves a donor or gestational carrier, learn more about our donation and surrogacy services.
Before IUI, most patients complete a baseline fertility evaluation, which may include confirming that at least one fallopian tube is open. Some IUI cycles happen during a natural menstrual cycle, while others use fertility medications to help the ovaries develop one or more mature eggs, a practice sometimes called ovulation induction.
On the day of the procedure, a semen sample is collected and prepared through a process called sperm washing, which concentrates healthy, motile sperm and removes substances in the semen that could otherwise irritate the uterus. Timing is based on ovulation, usually identified through an ovulation predictor test, bloodwork, ultrasound monitoring, or a trigger injection. The insemination itself is a quick, in-office procedure, typically taking only a few minutes, and most patients experience only mild discomfort, similar to a routine pelvic exam. Learn more about what to expect from our IUI service.
IUI is generally less invasive and less expensive than IVF, and it doesn’t require the same level of ovarian stimulation, monitoring, or lab work. For many patients, it’s a reasonable first step before considering more involved treatments.
That said, IUI has real limits. Per-cycle success rates are lower than IVF (see our breakdown of IUI vs. IVF success rates), and IUI isn’t the right fit for every diagnosis. When a fertility evaluation points to a structural issue, such as blocked fallopian tubes, or a more significant male-factor diagnosis, IUI may not be the recommended next step. This is why a diagnosis-first evaluation matters before choosing between IUI, IVF, or another path.
IUI is often considered for patients with unexplained infertility, mild male-factor infertility, cervical mucus issues, or those using donor sperm, including single parents by choice and LGBTQ+ family builders. Patients with PCOS may also be candidates, often with medication to support ovulation; read more about IUI success rates with PCOS. It generally requires at least one open fallopian tube, which is typically confirmed through an HSG test as part of a fertility evaluation.
The core difference is where fertilization happens. With IUI, sperm is placed in the uterus and fertilization still happens naturally inside the body. With IVF, eggs are retrieved and fertilized with sperm in a lab, and the resulting embryo is later transferred into the uterus. IVF involves more steps, more monitoring, and generally a higher cost per cycle, but it can address a wider range of fertility diagnoses than IUI can. Learn more on our IVF service page.
IUI is typically less expensive per cycle than IVF, though costs vary based on whether fertility medications and monitoring are used. Insurance coverage for fertility treatment, including IUI, varies significantly by plan and by state. Our team can help you understand your specific coverage as part of your evaluation.
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