IUI Babies vs Normal Babies: Key Differences Explained

According to a recent study, around 10 to 15% of couples in India struggle to conceive a baby naturally. This may happen due to disorders in either men or women or sometimes in both. Some of the disorders may include:

Sperm abnormalities,
Problems with the male reproductive tract,
Hormonal imbalances affecting both males and females,
Unhealthy fallopian tubes,
Ovulation disorder,
Uterine problems, and more.

Whatever the reason may be, the inability of a sperm and an egg to meet and unite can significantly affect the successful process of fertilisation and implantation.

In this blog, let’s explore the key differences between IUI babies vs normal babies to avoid misconceptions and misunderstandings.

What is an IUI?

IUI full form in medical context is intrauterine insemination. This is often considered the first line of fertility treatment, especially for couples with unexplained infertility. Your healthcare provider may suggest the IUI procedure as an initial step since it involves no invasive methods. It is also preferred as the procedure is less expensive and can be performed within 30 minutes.

The IUI procedure is done by injecting the concentrated healthy sperm into the woman’s uterus. It is particularly performed during the ovulation period, which may generally enhance the chances of successful fertilization.

Why is an IUI Procedure Performed?

The IUI treatment may be suggested by the healthcare provider in any of the following scenarios:

IUI can potentially be the initial treatment option for couples when the cause of infertility is unknown.
If the male partner has slightly decreased sperm count and motility.
IUI is performed if the woman has problems with cervical mucus as this will bypass the barrier.
Some women may experience allergic reactions towards their partner’s sperm. The prepared and concentrated sperm can help to avoid the issue.
Some women may struggle to have intercourse vaginally due to psychological or physical conditions. In such cases, an IUI procedure may be suggested by the healthcare provider.
If the male partner is found to have an extremely low sperm count, IUI may be suggested with donor sperm.

Key Differences between IUI Babies and Normal Babies

Conception Method

The conception method is the primary and can be said as the only difference found between the IUI and normal babies. IUI babies are usually conceived through the procedure, which involves injecting the father’s or donor’s sperm inside the mother’s uterus. While the natural conception happens through regular sexual intercourse without protection.

Treatments and Preparations

When it comes to conceiving a baby through an IUI procedure, hormone stimulation and ovulation induction medications are prescribed by the fertility expert. These fertility medications are essentially helpful to boost the development of eggs in the ovaries. Because of this, the chances of uniting the sperm with an egg are predominantly increased, specifically through the procedure. However, these medications are not generally required to conceive a baby naturally. Having intercourse without protection around the time of ovulation is all it needs.

On the other hand, the IUI procedure can be performed either with or without these additional medications. They are primarily decided by the fertility expert depending on the couple’s underlying cause of infertility and specific circumstances.

Pregnancy and Delivery

The pregnancy and delivery process may typically be the same for both IUI babies and normal babies. Conceiving through the IUI procedure doesn’t alter anything. Throughout both of these pregnancies, regular prenatal care is highly suggested to deliver better health for the mother and the baby.

Genetic Screening

In certain scenarios, your healthcare provider may recommend performing the genetic screening of the sperm or the woman right before the IUI procedure. Genetic screening may especially be recommended when the donor sperm is utilized. This is to ensure the potential hereditary disorders that could negatively affect the IUI success or the risk of a fetus inheriting the condition. Genetic screening is mostly performed on individuals, particularly those with conditions like sickle cell anaemia, sex-linked disorders, or cystic fibrosis. The testing is considered an essential step for couples as it offers a clear determination of the well-being of their future baby.

This could not be the case with natural conception. Genetic screening, in general, may be recommended by the healthcare provider if any abnormalities are indicated in the prenatal testing after conception. This is to ensure a precise diagnosis.

Health and Development

Recent studies show that there are no significant differences found in the IUI conceived babies and naturally conceived babies. They claim that both of these babies have attained similar developmental milestones in terms of physical and mental health. Conceiving through fertility treatments like IUI does not necessarily modify the genes of the growing baby to exhibit any health and developmental disorders. Instead, the fertilization process may indeed take place in the womb of the mother. Only the method of conception varies.

Social and Cultural Perceptions

Social and cultural perceptions are one of the significant differences in conceiving the baby through IUI. The sigma, discrimination, and concealment are indeed true when it comes to conceiving the baby through fertility treatments like IUI. The pressure of being unable to conceive naturally, specifically from family members can predominantly impact the self-esteem and distress in women. However, the acceptance and awareness of fertility treatments in the present days have resulted in minimizing the judgement and criticism surrounding infertility.

Note that understanding the complexities associated with fertility is crucial to breaking social comparisons and misconceptions.

Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes

Conceiving through IUI treatment does not generally exhibit the possibility of multiple gestations. However, medications that are used for hormone stimulation and ovulation induction may slightly increase the risk of conceiving twins or triplets, sometimes even more. Studies show that conceiving multiple gestations through the procedure could rarely be an IUI babies disadvantages.

On the other hand, the risk is significantly minimized when it comes to conceiving the baby naturally. Yet, the complications do exhibit even in natural conception. This may typically depend on the couple’s age, lifestyle factors, or underlying medical conditions like diabetes.

Note that the complications ascended by the IUI can generally be managed through regular medical administration.

Disclosure to the Child

It is important to recognize that the disclosure of how you conceived the child is a personal choice. However, many experts suggest having open communication with the child at the most appropriate age, especially if it’s through donor gametes. This will help the child to better understand their parent’s unique conception story of bringing them into their life. The openness can also significantly manifest to develop a bond and trust between the child and the parents.

IUI vs Natural Conception Success Rate

According to a recent study, the success rate of intrauterine insemination (IUI) is surprisingly lower when compared to natural conception. The success rates of natural conception may fall anywhere between 20 and 25% per month. Whereas the numbers may get higher if the woman is younger. A significant decline in success rates may be noticed if they are older.

However, the success rates of IUI conception may usually fall anywhere between 10 and 20% per cycle. The success rates may largely increase through multiple attempts by potentially reaching 40 and 50%.

Summary

To conclude the debate over IUI or IVF babies vs normal babies, much research demonstrates that there are no significant differences in the health and development of these babies. IUI babies are just as healthy and active as babies that are born naturally. The only key difference is the method of conception. Even though IUI conception is associated with a slightly increased risk of multiple gestations, the benefits it exhibits can predominantly outweigh these risks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I have a healthy and normal delivery through IUI?

A: The answer to the question is yes. It is quite possible to have a healthy and normal delivery through the IUI procedure. The mode of delivery may significantly be dependent on the mother’s and baby’s health. Rather, it has nothing to do with the method of conception.

Q: What are the five common myths of IUI babies?

A: Several misconceptions and misunderstandings surround the IUI babies. Some of them may include:

IUI procedure is an invasive and painful treatment.
IUI is ideal for only women-related fertility problems.
Babies conceived through IUI have health and developmental issues.
IUI always results in 100% pregnancy with multiple gestations.
IUI babies do not bond with their parents.

Q: Can I conceive naturally after conceiving and delivering my first child through the IUI procedure?

A: The answer to the question is yes. You can certainly conceive naturally even after successfully conceiving and delivering a baby through an IUI procedure. It is important to understand that IUI procedures do not permanently disrupt the ability to conceive naturally.

Q: Should I tell my child that she is conceived through IUI?

A: The disclosure of how the child is conceived is a personal choice. However, many experts suggest having open communication with the child at the most appropriate age, especially if it’s through donor gametes. This will help the child to better understand their parent’s unique conception story of bringing them into their life. The openness can also significantly manifest to develop a bond and trust between the child and the parents.

Q: What are the ethical and legal considerations of conceiving a baby through IUI?

A: Conceiving through intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure in India involves the regulation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, 2021. The act is aimed at regulating and supervising ART clinics and banks to ensure their ethical practices, prevent misuse of ART services, and protect patient rights. It is also aimed at strictly keeping the details of the sperm donor confidential.

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