IUI vs IVF is the question almost every Indian couple lands on first. The clinic might recommend one, your friend swears by the other, and Google has 200 contradicting articles. Here's the plain-English version.
The short version
IUI is simpler, much cheaper, much less invasive — and works far less often. IVF is the bigger commitment but the odds of a baby per attempt are several times higher.
For most people, the right answer depends on age, how long you've been trying, and what the basic tests show.
What each one actually is, in one line
- IUI: the partner's sperm is washed and placed directly into the uterus around ovulation. The egg meets the sperm inside the body.
- IVF: eggs are taken out of the body, fertilised in a lab, and the resulting embryo is transferred back into the uterus.
Side-by-side, the way patients actually compare them
| IUI | IVF | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per cycle (India, 2026) | ₹15,000 – ₹35,000 | ₹1.6 – ₹4 lakh |
| How invasive | Like a slightly longer Pap smear | Daily injections, scans, retrieval under anaesthesia |
| Time per cycle | ~2 weeks | ~6 weeks (one fresh cycle) |
| Success rate per cycle (own eggs, under 35) | 10 – 15% | 40 – 50% per transfer |
| Recommended max attempts | 3 – 4 | Depends on response |
| Time off work | Half day per cycle | ~1 week total per cycle |
When IUI is usually the right starting point
- You're under 35
- You've been trying for less than 2 years
- Tubal patency is normal (HSG is clear)
- Semen analysis is normal or mildly subnormal
- Ovarian reserve is reasonable
- The diagnosis is mild — unexplained infertility, mild PCOS, mild male-factor
In this group, 3–4 IUI attempts give a real shot at pregnancy at a fraction of IVF's cost and stress.
When IVF is usually the right starting point
- You're 38 or older
- Tubes are blocked or damaged
- Significant male-factor infertility (low count, motility, or morphology)
- You've already had 3+ failed IUIs
- Endometriosis, severe PCOS, or known ovarian reserve issues
- You need PGT-A or genetic testing of embryos
- Donor egg or surrogacy is the path
The cost-per-baby angle
Cheap IUI looks cheap until you total it across attempts. Rough maths for an under-35 couple with mild infertility:
- IUI route: 4 attempts × ~₹25,000 = ₹1 lakh, with ~50–60% chance of pregnancy across all attempts
- Straight to IVF: 1 fresh cycle ~₹2.5 lakh, with ~50% chance per transfer plus FETs from leftover embryos
For the right patient, IUI is genuinely cheaper. For the wrong patient (older, blocked tubes, severe male-factor), IUI is just an expensive delay before doing IVF anyway.
What to ask your doctor
- Given my age, AMH, AFC, partner's semen analysis, and tubal status — would you recommend IUI or IVF first?
- How many IUI attempts would you cap at before switching?
- What's my realistic chance per IUI cycle?
- If IUI isn't the right starting point for me, why specifically?
A confident answer comes from knowing your numbers, not from a clinic preference. If a clinic suggests IVF without checking the basics first, that's a flag — see our red-flags piece.
The middle path: IUI with strict caps
Many Indian patients do 3 IUIs with a clear pre-decided rule: if no pregnancy by attempt 3, switch to IVF without a long debate. This gives IUI a fair shot without burning a year on it.
One last thing
IUI failing is not a sign IVF will fail. They're different techniques with different bottlenecks. Many couples who don't get pregnant with IUI succeed with IVF on cycle 1. The only way to choose right is to look at your specific numbers — not anyone else's story.
For the cost side, see IVF cost in India 2026; for choosing the clinic that runs either treatment, see our 14-question checklist.