IUI – otherwise known as Intrauterine Insemination or ‘artificial insemination’ – is a type of fertility treatment that encourages pregnancy by placing prepared, quality sperm close to the egg for fertilisation.
It involves placing donor sperm, or partner sperm, into your uterus around the same time you naturally ovulate. IUI is usually performed without the use of fertility medication, with a typical cycle of treatment taking just four weeks.
IUI can be a good first choice for fertile female couples or single women who need donor sperm to conceive.
Other reasons you may choose IUI include:
We first need to ensure that IUI is suitable for you. This involves you testing for ovulation at home across a couple of cycles prior to treatment, using an ovulation prediction kit, so we know if you are ovulating or will need fertility medications. We assess your risk of having tubal problems and discuss whether a fallopian tube test is needed.
Your fertility consultant will explain your personal treatment process and provide you with a fully costed and transparently priced treatment plan.
Select a donor from our extensive in-house sperm bank, BuySperm. All our donors are based in the UK, have been fully health-screened and registered on the HFEA's donor sperm register.
Once you have selected your chosen donor, your donor sperm will be available immediately, with no waiting lists.
IUI is usually performed in a natural cycle, using the egg you ovulate each month. Or we can use fertility drugs if you have irregular ovulation. We will be able to identify when you have ovulated, so IUI using donor sperm is performed at exactly the right time.
Sperm is washed and prepared. Sperm washing is a process where sperm is separated from the seminal fluid. After washing, only the most active sperm remain and any chemicals or fluid that may interfere with fertilisation have been removed.
The washed sperm is gently inserted into the uterus using a fine catheter. This is a simple, painless and quick procedure. After IUI, you do not need to stay in the clinic, although you are welcome to rest for a short while.
You can take a pregnancy test two weeks later. Our midwife will support you during this time. If your pregnancy test is positive, we’ll arrange your first pregnancy scan at our clinic. Although some women achieve pregnancy straight away through IUI, it is not unusual to need more than one cycle of insemination.
IUI using donor sperm can cost as little as £2,450* for a single cycle with Manchester Fertility. This includes all procedures we believe are necessary for treatment. The final cost of your IUI treatment will depend on your circumstances, existing medical conditions, and overall health.
As our specialist fertility consultants will tailor your treatment plan to your individual needs, your treatment may cost more than this. Rest assured, no matter your circumstances, you will always be offered complete transparency on your treatment and all the advice you need to make informed decisions for your fertility journey.
For more details on our IUI treatment packages, including additional costs that may be incurred, please see below or refer to our latest price list.
*Additional fees may apply
Our Single Cycle IUI Treatment using Donor Sperm package costs £2,450 and includes:
Additional tests as required:
Our IUI Multi Cycle Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Package is £4,900 and includes:
Additional tests as required:
Our Single Cycle IUI Treatment using a Known Sperm Donor package costs £1,795 and includes:
Additional charges may apply when using a known sperm donor or based on individual treatment plans. A full breakdown of potential costs can be found on page 34 of our latest price list.
Our Multi Cycle IUI Treatment using a Known Sperm Donor package costs £3,605 and includes:
Additional charges may apply when using a known sperm donor or based on individual treatment plans. A full breakdown of potential costs can be found on page 35 of our latest price list.
You can choose to fund your IUI cycle yourself or through our Multi-Cycle IUI treatment package, which gives you fixed-cost peace of mind. Learn more about funding your IUI treatment with an Access Fertility pre-paid plan.
Manchester Fertility has over 35 years of expertise in fertility treatments and consistent patient success rates. Learn more about our approach and meet some of the many families who have had successful IUI treatment with us.
Anamika completed her Obstetrics and Gynaecology training both in India and the UK, and has been a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists since 2005.
“After becoming infertile in my twenties due to two ectopic pregnancies, the dream of becoming a Mum again was lost until we decided to start our IVF journey with Manchester …”
Ellicia & Joshua, August 2025
“We can not thank Manchester Fertility enough for making our dream of becoming parents come true. The journey was long with bumps along the way but the team at Manchester …”
Alice & Danny, August 2025
“Our IVF journey was 2 and a half years long and filled with emotional ups and downs, however we can’t thank the clinic and team enough for their advice, comfort …”
Rihannah & Toni, August 2025
A typical natural cycle of insemination takes around four weeks, including pinpointing ovulation and pregnancy test.
Some women do conceive first time through IUI but it is not uncommon to need more than one cycle of insemination to achieve pregnancy. If IUI is unsuccessful a number of times, your consultant will review your cycle and treatment path, and may advise further tests, to see if there are any changes that can be made to improve your chances of success. It could be that IVF is a better option for you.
IVF does have higher success rates per cycle, but many patients will start with IUI if they are using donor sperm. Your consultant will advise if you can try IUI to conceive or if you would be better to start with IVF.
Speak to our friendly New Patient Coordinators. We're open today until 6:00pm.
If you still feel you need more guidance and support, you can book a FREE 1-2-1 discovery meeting to talk through the options available to you.
