March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to talk about how this condition affects fertility. If you’re struggling to conceive, you may wonder whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the better assisted reproductive technology for your needs.
At Fertility & Gynecology Center - Monterey Bay IVF, world renowned board-certified OB/GYN and fertility expert Dr. Edward J. Ramirez leads our team in providing highly customized solutions for women with endometriosis-related infertility.
With extensive expertise in both treatment approaches, we truly care about finding solutions that help you build the family you've always wanted — even when endometriosis makes the process more difficult.
Endometriosis and infertility are strongly linked. It’s an underlying problem in up to half of women with infertility.
Endometriosis develops when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. This may cause fertility problems in several ways, including:
All of these factors can make conception more difficult, and many women with endometriosis have several of these problems working against them when trying to conceive. IVF and IUI could be solutions. Understanding the differences is important in planning your approach.
Both IVF and IUI can help people with endometriosis conceive, but they work differently:
Dr. Ramirez often recommends IUI for women with mild endometriosis.
IUI involves placing millions of sperm from your partner or a donor directly into your uterus when you’re the most fertile. The procedure is quick and painless — we often tell patients that it feels similar to getting a Pap smear.
To achieve peak fertility before IUI, most women take ovulation-stimulating medications, a process called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. However, some women do IUI without medications.
Dr. Ramirez monitors egg development using ultrasound technology. At the peak time for pregnancy, an injection such as hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, triggers ovulation. At our practice, Dr. Ramirez performs two IUIs: one 24 hours post-trigger and the next at 48 hours. If women try four cycles without success, Dr. Ramirez typically recommends moving to IVF next.
Dr. Ramirez usually recommends IVF for severe endometriosis. IVF bypasses many of the barriers that endometriosis can throw in your path, but it’s a more complex process than IUI.
It involves stimulating ovulation and retrieving mature eggs from the ovaries. Then, our embryologists combine sperm and eggs to create embryos in our state-of-the-art lab.
A growing period (three to five days) allows the embryos to develop. This phase varies by woman because Dr. Ramirez waits for the ideal stage of development for transfer.
After that, you have an egg transfer procedure in which Dr. Ramirez places the embryos in your uterus. Your first pregnancy test is about two weeks later.
IUI or IVF> The choice is highly personal and can be confusing at first. Not to worry; we’re here to guide you throughout your treatment process. Some factors to consider include:
In general, IUI might be the first option for mild endometriosis, while IVF might be better for moderate or severe cases. For example, if your fallopian tubes are blocked or you experience poor egg quality, which is common with more advanced endometriosis, IVF may be the best option.
For those with mild endometriosis and no major fertility obstacles, IUI may be worth trying first. Other factors, like your age, can also play a role in choosing the right approach.
IUI has fewer steps and a shorter overall time frame.
IUI is cheaper, but IVF has a higher chance of success.
If you're struggling to conceive because of endometriosis, call Fertility & Gynecology Center - Monterey Bay IVF at 831-649-4483 to schedule your consultation online to discuss your options with Dr. Ramirez as soon as possible.
