Sometimes the body is ready, but the right union doesn’t happen at the right time. In IUI, healthy sperm are selected and placed directly into the uterus to give the egg and sperm the best chance of meeting.
A simple, non-surgical fertility treatment performed in under 10 minutes. With personalised ovulation tracking, advanced sperm preparation, and the experienced care of Dr. Shradha Chakhaiyar (MRCOG, London) — IUI offers a gentle, evidence-based first step toward parenthood for couples across Bihar.
Across India, nearly 1 in 6 couples now experience some form of infertility — and for many, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) is the recommended first medical step. It is gentle, affordable, evidence-based, and avoids the complexity of more advanced procedures when they are not yet needed.
At Shradha IVF & Maternity in Bhikhana Pahari, Patna, IUI is performed with careful ovulation monitoring, modern andrology lab support for sperm preparation, and continuous guidance from Dr. Shradha’s team. Our approach is to recommend IUI only when it is genuinely the right step for your diagnosis — and to move on to IVF promptly if the clinical situation calls for it, without prolonging unnecessary cycles.
At Shradha IVF & Maternity, the IUI cost is as low as ₹3,750 per cycle (excluding medications).
Choosing between IUI and IVF depends on your specific diagnosis, age, and how long you have been trying to conceive. Here is an honest side-by-side comparison to help you understand which step suits your situation.
| Factor | IUI | IVF |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic Process |
IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) is a simple, non-surgical procedure where prepared sperm is placed inside the uterus during ovulation. It is ideal for couples with mild male factor issues, irregular ovulation, or unexplained infertility. It is affordable, quick, and usually the first step in fertility treatment. |
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is a more advanced technique where eggs and sperm are fertilised in the laboratory, and embryos are transferred into the uterus. IVF is recommended for blocked tubes, severe male infertility, endometriosis, or repeated IUI failure. It offers higher success rates but involves more steps and a higher cost. |
|
Cost per cycle |
From ₹5,000 onwards |
₹1,50,000–₹3,00,000 |
|
Procedure duration |
5–10 minutes, no anaesthesia |
2–3 weeks, includes sedation |
|
Success rate per cycle |
10–20% per cycle (age-dependent) |
30–50% per cycle (age-dependent) |
|
Best suited for |
Mild male factor, unexplained infertility, mild PCOS, cervical factor |
Blocked tubes, severe male factor, advanced endometriosis, repeated IUI failure |
|
Number of cycles typically needed |
3–4 cycles before considering IVF |
1–3 cycles depending on diagnosis |
|
Invasiveness |
Non-surgical, painless |
Includes egg retrieval under sedation |
|
Recovery time |
Same day, immediate normal activity |
Mild rest after retrieval and transfer |
Shradha IVF & Maternity view: For couples under 35 with no blocked tubes, normal-to-mild male factor parameters, and no advanced endometriosis, IUI is the right first step. If 3–4 well-monitored IUI cycles do not result in pregnancy, IVF is typically the next recommendation. We do not believe in extending IUI cycles indefinitely — every month matters in fertility, and treatment must escalate appropriately when the clinical picture calls for it.
A complete IUI cycle takes 10–15 days from the start of the menstrual cycle to the pregnancy test. Here is exactly what happens at each step.
Your first visit includes a detailed medical history, hormonal blood tests (AMH, FSH, LH, TSH, prolactin), pelvic ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve and uterine cavity, and a complete semen analysis for your partner. Based on these results, Dr. Shradha designs a personalised IUI protocol — including whether ovulation induction medication is required, which medication suits your hormonal profile, and the ideal timing for the procedure. The first consultation is free.
For women with regular ovulation, IUI can be performed in a natural cycle without medication. For women with irregular ovulation, mild PCOS, or unexplained infertility, gentle ovulation induction medication (oral tablets such as letrozole or clomiphene, occasionally with low-dose injections) is prescribed from Day 2–3 of the cycle. Follicular growth is tracked through 2–3 ultrasound scans across the cycle.
On the day of ovulation, your partner provides a fresh semen sample at the clinic. In our andrology lab, the sperm sample undergoes a "wash" process — using density gradient centrifugation or swim-up technique — to concentrate the healthiest, most motile sperm and remove seminal fluid, immobile sperm, and debris. This prepared sample dramatically improves the chance of fertilisation compared to natural intercourse.
The IUI itself is a quick, painless procedure performed in our outpatient room. Using a thin, soft catheter, the prepared sperm is gently placed directly into the uterine cavity — bypassing the cervix and giving the sperm a much shorter distance to reach the egg. The entire procedure takes 5–10 minutes, requires no anaesthesia, and feels similar to a routine pelvic examination. Most patients return home within 30 minutes and resume normal activity the same day.
Hormonal support (typically progesterone) is prescribed for the next two weeks to support implantation. Light activity is encouraged — there is no need for prolonged bed rest. A blood test for pregnancy (beta-hCG) is performed 14 days after the procedure. If the cycle is unsuccessful, Dr. Shradha reviews the protocol and decides whether to repeat, modify, or escalate to IVF.
Every IUI cycle is designed individually after detailed hormone evaluation, ultrasound, and semen analysis — not from a fixed package template. Medication choice, dosage, and cycle timing are matched to your specific diagnosis.
Our in-house andrology lab uses density gradient centrifugation and swim-up techniques to prepare the highest-quality sperm sample for each procedure — one of the most important factors in IUI success.
IUI from ₹5,000 per cycle onwards. All medication costs, scan costs, and any additional charges are explained transparently before treatment begins.
The IUI procedure itself takes 5–10 minutes and requires no anaesthesia. Most patients are in and out of the clinic within 30 minutes, with no recovery time needed.
Couples from across Bihar — Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Hajipur — receive specialist fertility care close to home, with continuity from the same medical team across every cycle.
Shradha IVF & Maternity helps couples across Bihar where IUI is genuinely the right clinical step. IUI is most effective when:
In these situations, Dr. Shradha will recommend IVF treatment directly — because each month of delay has a biological cost, and choosing the right treatment from the start matters more than choosing the cheapest one.
The cost of one IUI cycle at Shradha IVF starts from ₹5,000. The final amount may vary depending on medicines, number of ultrasound scans, or if more than one cycle is required.
Most fertility guidelines, including ESHRE and ICMR recommendations, suggest 3–4 well-conducted IUI cycles before moving to IVF. If pregnancy has not occurred after 4 cycles in a couple under 35, or 2–3 cycles in a couple over 35, IVF gives substantially better outcomes per month of treatment.
No. IUI is performed using a soft, thin catheter and feels similar to a routine pelvic examination. No anaesthesia is required. Most patients describe mild cramping for a few seconds, no more. The full procedure takes 5–10 minutes and most women return to normal activity the same day.
Yes. Mild to moderate PCOS responds well to IUI, particularly when combined with ovulation induction medication (such as letrozole or clomiphene). Many couples with PCOS-related infertility conceive within 2–3 IUI cycles. Severe PCOS with multiple failed ovulation induction cycles may benefit from IVF instead.
IUI success rates per cycle are typically 10–20%, depending on the woman's age, sperm parameters, and underlying diagnosis. Cumulative success across 3 cycles is approximately 30–40%. Younger couples (under 35) with unexplained infertility see the highest success rates; women over 38 see significantly lower rates.
If IUI sounds like the right next step in your fertility journey — or if you are unsure and want an honest assessment — speak directly with Dr. Shradha Chakhaiyar's team. The first consultation is free. There is no pressure, no upselling, just a careful evaluation of what is right for your specific situation.
Talk to Dr Shradha about your IUI treatment
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