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IUI subtopic · Last reviewed 19 June 2025

Written and maintained by the Clinics for Kings editorial desk·Edited by Morten Andersen & Fredrik Filipsson

Fact-checked against the cited medical and cost sources by the Clinics for Kings editorial desk·General information, not a clinician’s review — always consult a licensed doctor.

IUI: what to ask.

Intrauterine insemination is a gentler first step than IVF, but it is not right for everyone and its chances drop with age. These are the questions that tell you whether it suits your situation, what each cycle really costs, and how donor sperm is handled. We never name a clinic.

General health information, not medical advice, and not a substitute for a qualified doctor. Always consult a licensed professional before making any decision.

Published by Kings Hospitality LLC · 1314 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, USA. Edited by Morten Andersen & Fredrik Filipsson. See our editorial standards & corrections policy.

~£1,000+

Indicative per cycle UK
often several cycles

Key questions
answered in writing

Under 16%

Per cycle under 35
lower with age

The one honest thing

IUI has a lower chance per cycle than IVF. Several paid cycles abroad can cost more than one IVF closer to home, so ask when to switch.

Quick answer

Why these questions?

IUI places prepared sperm into the uterus around ovulation. It is simpler and cheaper than IVF, but the chance of a birth per cycle is modest, around one in six or lower for women under 35 and falling with age, so many people need several cycles. The questions that matter are whether IUI fits your situation at all, how the clinic reports its results honestly, and what happens with donor sperm and aftercare from another country.

This page expands the questions from the main guide. It is general information reviewed in June 2026, not a personal treatment plan. Costs are indicative and vary.

The questions in depth

Ask all six, in writing.

A clinic that sells you cycle after cycle without reviewing whether IUI is even the right route is not on your side. Use these to judge any clinic you are sent.

Is IUI right for me, or would IVF give a better chance?

IUI suits unexplained infertility, mild sperm issues, and single people or same sex couples using donor sperm. It is a poor choice if the fallopian tubes are blocked, if there is a significant sperm problem, or at older ages, where IVF usually offers a much higher chance. Ask the clinic to set out why IUI fits your diagnosis specifically.

What are your IUI success rates by age, and how are they reported?

Ask for live birth per cycle, broken down by age band, not a single flattering headline number. As a yardstick, regulators in the UK report roughly under 16 percent per cycle for women under 35, around 11 percent at 35 to 39, and under 5 percent at 40 to 42. Be wary of any clinic quoting far higher without explaining how it counts.

Will the cycle be natural or stimulated, and how is it monitored?

Some IUI cycles use fertility drugs to encourage ovulation, which can lift the chance but also raises the risk of a multiple pregnancy and, rarely, ovarian overstimulation. Ask how your ovaries and lining will be tracked with scans, how the timing is decided, and how a multiple pregnancy is avoided.

If donor sperm is used, how is it screened and what are the legal rules?

Donor sperm should be screened and quarantined to recognised standards. The law on donor anonymity, the number of families per donor, and a child's future right to identifying information differs sharply between countries. Ask exactly what your child will and will not be able to learn later, as this cannot be undone.

How many cycles do you advise before reviewing, and what does each cost?

Most clinics review after about three to six cycles before considering IVF. Ask for an itemised price per cycle, including scans, drugs, and donor sperm, and what the plan is if it has not worked. Open ended cycling with no review point is a warning sign.

What aftercare and support follows insemination, and who do I contact at home?

Ask when to take the pregnancy test, what symptoms need urgent attention, and who you contact in your own country if there is pain, heavy bleeding, or signs of overstimulation after a stimulated cycle. A treatment in another country still needs a plan for the weeks after you fly home.

The warning signs

When to walk away.

Cycle after cycle, no review

Selling repeated IUI without a clear review point, even where the odds are poor for your case, puts revenue ahead of your chances.

Success rates with no detail

A single high number with no age band and no live birth definition is marketing, not evidence. Ask how it is counted.

Vague donor information

If screening, quarantine, and the legal rights of a future child are not spelled out, that is a reason to pause, not proceed.

Get Matched with a vetted clinic

Now you know what to ask, compare safely.

Send one brief and we route it to vetted clinics that report results honestly and set out donor rules and aftercare clearly. They return tailored plans and all in prices. You choose, with no pressure.

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How we make money: the guides are free and no clinic can pay to be named, ranked or recommended. We never name clinics. Get Matched is an optional service that helps keep the guides free and independent of any one clinic; using it is always your choice and you are never charged. How this works.

Common questions

The things everyone asks.

How many IUI cycles before moving to IVF?

Many clinics review after about three to six cycles, since most IUI pregnancies that happen do so within the first few attempts. Ask for your clinic's review point before you start.

Does IUI hurt?

The insemination itself is quick and usually feels much like a cervical smear, with mild cramping for some. A stimulated cycle adds scans and injections in the days before.

What success rate is realistic?

As a guide, UK regulators report roughly under 16 percent live birth per cycle for women under 35, falling with age. It is lower than IVF per attempt, which is why several cycles are common.

Is travelling abroad for IUI worth it?

Sometimes, for access to donor sperm or lower prices, but weigh the total cost of several cycles plus travel against one IVF closer to home, and check the donor laws of the country carefully.