The difference between artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization

Release time : 06/13/2025 09:30:02

With the development of science and technology, artificial insemination and IVF are increasingly accepted by more people. The maturity of these two medical achievements has also benefited many families.

However, many families are not aware of the differences between artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, making it difficult for them to decide which method is appropriate.

This article mainly introduces the difference between artificial insemination and IVF, as well as related information about both.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves the use of artificial insemination to introduce a male semen sample into the female reproductive tract, either into the cervix or into the fallopian tubes, in order to facilitate conception. This method is primarily used for male infertility.

In vitro fertilization is categorized into intra-couple insemination and non-intra-couple insemination.

Who is suitable for artificial insemination? Firstly, at least one side of the fallopian tube must be open, and the open ovary is suitable for artificial insemination when ovulation occurs. Artificial insemination is actually the process of selecting and injecting sperm into your uterine cavity, followed by B-ultrasound ovulation. After ovulation, the sperm is injected into your uterus based on the ovulation condition. But this requires the umbrella end of the fallopian tube to naturally catch the egg, and it must be able to enter the fallopian tube, which means the egg must be able to naturally enter the fallopian tube and possibly meet the sperm. If the condition of the fallopian tubes is not good, the sperm and egg cannot meet.

In vitro fertilization is a reproductive assisted technique that involves the manipulation of sperm, egg and embryo in vitro to be transferred into the human body to assist couples with infertility in conceiving a series of technologies including artificial insemination, uterine gametes transplantation and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. The pregnancy process of IVF is the same as that of regular conception.

To undergo in vitro fertilization, one must first be diagnosed as having both fallopian tubes blocked or a poor pelvic environment.

It's precisely because the fallopian tube is blocked that sperm and eggs cannot meet. In order to facilitate fertilization, it's necessary to retrieve the female egg and the male sperm from the woman and combine them in vitro. Actually, this is a process of combining sperm and egg in the laboratory. However, once the sperm and egg are combined, they must form an zygote. The formation of the zygote actually starts on the first day when they are placed together, and by the second day, you see a double cell. By the third day, it has grown into a four-cell stage, and this growth continues exponentially. Typically, by the eighth day, the embryo needs to be implanted into the uterus. Therefore, the success rate of IVF depends on various factors. It includes the quality of the patient's own eggs and the quality of the embryo, as well as the quality of the combination of sperm and egg. Additionally, the quality of the implantation into the uterus and the environment within the uterus are also important factors.

It is evident that the difference between artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization is quite significant.

The cost of artificial insemination is not small, and both partners hope to have a healthy baby after marriage, building a happy three-person family. However, some couples have been unable to conceive for many years despite being married.

With the development of science and technology, artificial insemination has become increasingly accepted by more people. The maturity of this medical achievement has also benefited many families, bringing healthy babies to them.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method of assisting conception by injecting the male semen into the female cervix or uterine cavity through artificial means, primarily used for cases of male infertility caused by factors such as severe urethral atresia, retrograde ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, azoospermia, oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, and immotile spermatozoa.

Some infertility issues can be addressed through artificial insemination, such as vaginal contraction, cervical dilation, abnormal cervical mucus, or poor post-coital test results.

Additionally, there are some special circumstances such as infertility caused by immunology reasons, the couple is both heterozygous for a common chromosome recessive genetic disease or the male suffers from a common chromosome dominant genetic disease.

So, what is the cost of artificial insemination? The cost per attempt generally ranges between 3,000 to 8,000. Prices vary greatly among different hospitals and are determined by individual circumstances as well as the difficulty of the procedure.

Therefore, couples seeking in-vitro fertilization should consult a professional hospital for advice. Prior to insemination, it is important to undergo various examinations, ensure personal hygiene, and take adequate rest.

The process of artificial insemination is one that many couples wish to pursue, yet they are concerned about the complexity and duration of the procedure. So, what exactly is the process of artificial insemination? Let's take a look together.

The process of artificial insemination: First, detailed gynecological examinations are conducted on the female patients undergoing artificial insemination, which includes checking whether the internal and external genitalia are normal, whether the endometrium is healthy, and whether both fallopian tubes are patent. If all these conditions are met, they qualify for artificial insemination.

Then, it is necessary to estimate the ovulation day to choose the optimal time for insemination.

Common methods for estimating the ovulation day include measuring basal body temperature, vaginal discharge (usually appearing 4-5 days before ovulation), or peak urinary LH levels, continuous transvaginal ultrasound examination, etc.

Before the estimated ovulation period of the female partner, if the donor or husband masturbates to extract semen, the semen needs to be tested. If the results show normal semen density and motility, after the semen liquefies, it can be injected into the vagina, around the cervix, and into the cervical canal using a syringe or catheter

The female should lie down for 2-3 hours so that semen does not escape.

Each woman can have three artificial insemination cycles within one menstrual cycle. That is, starting 72 hours before the day of ovulation, 24 hours before and after the day of ovulation, respectively. If not pregnant after one menstrual cycle, it can be continued for several cycles.

Pharmacological induction of ovulation and adjustment of ovulatory timing may be necessary to increase the chances of conception.

The success or failure of artificial insemination is generally judged on the basis of 12 cycles.

The cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is primarily the cost of ovarian stimulation medication. Since the costs of ovulation-inducing drugs are high, and the external conditions required for egg fertilization and embryo development are also high, the cost of one case of IVF is also relatively high.

Therefore, couples seeking in vitro fertilization must not only meet the requirements of their own conditions but also consider their financial capacity and determination to have a child.

As each patient's medication dosage varies, the expenses for each infertility treatment also differ. Generally speaking, younger and more receptive patients have a higher success rate and thus require less cost.

Due to the differences between imported and domestic drugs, there can be significant differences in costs.

Secondly, IVF involves several treatment cycles, and the cost varies from cycle to cycle. Additionally, there are expenses associated with pre-treatment examinations.

The specific amount of fees varies by location.

Therefore, before undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), it is important to ask about the specific costs and make a choice based on one's financial situation.

Moreover, even if IVF is successful, there will still be costs later on, which means ongoing treatment.

This depends on the number of treatment cycles, the earlier the success, the lower the total cost.

So, at the beginning, the specific cost cannot be determined. First, make an estimate of the success rate in order to predict the approximate cost.

Choosing a hospital with a high success rate for treatment results in relatively lower costs.

Finally, for couples visiting from outside the country, both travel and accommodation should be factored in. The costs associated with lengthy treatment periods are also higher.

Therefore, opting for a hospital close to oneself can reduce expenses, but it is crucial to ensure the success rate of IVF.

The success rate has decreased, and the cost incurred and the harm to oneself far exceeds the rental expenses.

The lower the standard of hospital care, the longer the treatment period. With the increase in the treatment period, each pregnancy increases its success rate, and the cost will rise again.

Therefore, we should choose carefully and handle them with caution.

The process of IVF involves the following six steps: 1. Ovulation induction treatment. Since not every egg can be fertilized, and not every fertilized egg can develop into a viable embryo, it is necessary to obtain multiple eggs from women in order to ensure that there are embryos available for transfer. This requires ovulation induction treatment on the part of the female.

2. Under the guidance of ultrasound, the egg collection doctor applies a special needle to perforate the mature follicles through the vagina and extract the eggs.

Oocyte retrieval is generally done under sedation with no pain experienced by the woman.

3. Extraction of Sperm for In Vitro Fertilization: When the female undergoes ovulation, the male is responsible for collecting sperm.

The semen was washed and then placed in special mediums for the natural union of sperm and egg.

This is what's called the standard conception method.

4. Following fertilization, a very fine embryo transfer catheter is used to insert the best embryos into the uterus through the cervix. The number of embryos transferred is determined based on age, quality of the embryos, and previous outcomes from IVF, typically transferring 2 to 3 embryos.

In recent years, to reduce the rate of multiple pregnancies, some centers have opted for single embryo transfer or up to two embryos.

Since the embryo transfer catheter is very thin and the doctor moves it gently, the patient usually does not experience any pain.

5. Luteal Support: Due to the use of GnRH agonists/antagonists and ovulation induction drugs, as well as the loss of follicular granulosa cells resulting from oocyte retrieval, women typically experience luteal insufficiency during the oocyte retrieval cycle, necessitating the administration of progesterone and/or chorionic gonadotropin for luteal supplementation/support.

If there is no pregnancy, discontinue the administration of progesterone and await menstruation.

If pregnancy occurs, continue to use progesterone until 3 weeks after the B-ultrasound shows a fetal heartbeat.

6. Pregnancy Determination: Serum Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) levels are measured 14 days post-embryo transfer to confirm pregnancy.

At 21 days after embryo transfer, serum hCG was again measured to evaluate the development of the embryo.

At 30 days after embryo transfer, determine whether the pregnancy is in the uterus by transvaginal ultrasound examination and check for fetal heartbeat.

*The medical information provided in this text is for reference only.

In case of discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on the medical consultations conducted in person.