IUI vs normal donor insemination

[Singleandwantingababy]

Is there a huge difference in the two?

I am single and wanting to be a SMBC and as far as I'm aware I have no fertility issues (although not conclusively proven yet). Assuming I don't have issues, surely normal insemination would be better?

I have 2 clinics in mind at the moment. One offers normal donor insemination, whereas the other will only do IUI, which is obviously more expensive as well.

Anyone shed some light?

What do you mean by 'normal' donor insemination?

The clinic websites and/or open days will explain the differences between the procedures and give you some stats. How old are you?

I thought there was a "turkey bastor" method for donor insemination because one of the clinics listed donor insemination as a separate option to IUI and IVF, which is more invasive I think and normally requires medication? Forgive me if I'm getting this all wrong, only just started looking into this.

I'm 30 so figured it was a good age to start exploring my options.

Hi OP.

So, IUI and IVF are basically your two options for getting pregnant at a clinic. They can be done with donor sperm, or partner sperm. When they talk about 'donor insemination' this means IUI using donor sperm (as opposed to partner).

There's no such thing as 'turkey baster' method. This is something that people might try if they meet a 'donor' unofficially on a facebook group or something like that (which I really would NOT recommend).

IUI can be medicated or unmedicated (going by your natural cycles - for women without fertility issues). With IUI, they basically inject sperm and it fertilises the egg inside you. You still have to have lots of scans for IUI - whether medicated or unmedicated - to track how your egg(s) are developing. You can expect to be at the clinic every other day in the lead up to ovulation.

IVF is more invasive - the fertilisation takes place in a lab, so you will take meds to stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than normal, and you will have an egg collection procedure during which you'd be under sedation. It's not fun, but it has better success rates than IUI.

IUI success rates are about 10-15% per cycle, for a healthy woman under 35.

Unmedicated IUI is the least invasive method and probably your best option if you are healthy and have normal fertility.

I hope this is helpful.... I know a thing or two about all this now (not by choice, unfortunately!) so give me a shout if you have questions and good luck.