ICI vs. IUI

ahayden
ahayden Member Member
edited October 2020 in In-Office IUI
So we are trying to decide if we are going to do another IUI or do a ICI. I had never heard of an ICI before. But it is the same as an IUI except it is unwashed, and there are more sperm supposedly available and it's cheaper. My RE told me that this is what they typically get when they do donor sperm inseminations. I am wondering if anyone has had success with these vs the IUI. Please comment either way Thanks!
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  • txgrl74
    txgrl74 Senior Member Senior Member
    ahayden, you might want to read up more. ICI's I believe can be done at home and the sperm is only put into the cervix. IUI the sperm is put into the Uterus. My RE said you wouldn't want to put an ICI vial of sperm in the uterus, because it's not washed and could cause burning and be uncomfortable.
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  • CRippli1
    CRippli1 Member Member
    I am no professional, but from what I recall learning about when I went through the process, you are correct about the basic concept of ICI. It is unwashed and cheaper (assuming you have success immediately). If you are seeing a Family Doctor I could understand them telling you that it is what they're used to seeing with donor inseminations but I'm surprised an RE would say that to you since they're dealing with people with fertility issues. There is a higher sperm count in an ICI vial and that is because they are unwashed. But when you perform an ICI at home it goes into your vagina and the sperm has to travel all the way to your uterus. By the time the sperm gets to the uterus it has been "washed" by your body. Therefore the number of sperm that are still alive by the time they reach the uterus is actually lower than the number of sperm that are injected into your uterus with an IUI.

    I am considering trying ICI in the future but that's only because I am young, I have no fertility problems myself and I successfully got pregnant on my first attempt of an IUI. I know that the odds of getting pregnant using an ICI are lower but I found the IUI incredibly uncomfortable and I am hoping that I am an ideal candidate for ICI. I figure that when you weigh out that ICI is less expensive but also has lower success rates it is likely to be more expensive because it will take more tries.

    Just my two cents.
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