Concierge fertility care · UK
Private intrauterine insemination (IUI), at an HFEA-licensed clinic.
A properly planned IUI cycle — natural or stimulated, partner or donor sperm — led by a consultant in reproductive medicine at a UK clinic we have vetted ourselves.
Why patients choose us
- 01
An HFEA-licensed clinic, a named consultant
Not a call centre and not a nurse-only pathway. A consultant in reproductive medicine plans the cycle and signs off the monitoring.
- 02
IUI when it fits — not when it does not
For blocked tubes, severe male factor or age over 39, IUI is the wrong tool. We say so before you spend the money.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation between natural, stimulated, partner and donor is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private IUI cycle costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner HFEA-licensed clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A natural cycle IUI with partner sperm: £900–£1,400, result at two weeks.
| Cycle or item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Result timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural cycle IUI (partner sperm) | £900–£1,400 | 2–3 clinic visits | Result at 2 weeks |
| Stimulated cycle IUI (partner sperm) | £1,200–£1,800 | 3–4 clinic visits | Result at 2 weeks |
| Medication for stimulated cycle | £200–£500 | Included | Per cycle |
| Donor sperm (per straw, HFEA-licensed bank) | £1,000–£1,500 | Ships to clinic | Included in cycle |
| Initial fertility consultation | £200–£400 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Baseline scan and hormone panel | £250–£450 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by whether the cycle is natural or stimulated, by which sperm source is used, and by how much monitoring the consultant recommends. Some patients are eligible for NHS-funded IUI through their ICB — we tell you when that route is worth exploring first.
The problem
The right treatment, at the right time — not more cycles for the sake of it.
IUI is the less invasive, less expensive cousin of IVF. That makes it easy to over-sell. We help you work out whether it is the right first step or whether IVF should be the plan from day one.
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Not sure IUI is right?
For blocked tubes, severe male factor or age over 39, IVF is the honest recommendation. We say so before you spend the money.
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Same-sex or single by choice?
Donor IUI at an HFEA-licensed clinic with a consultant plan — not a nurse-only pathway and not a call centre.
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Been trying without answers?
A proper baseline, a clear plan, and a stopping point agreed up front — so cycles are decisions, not defaults.
The journey
From enquiry to result — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the two-week wait and the honest conversation after.
Phase 1 · Before the cycle
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · Through the cycle
Monitoring and insemination
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. How long you have been trying, any investigations so far, whether you need donor sperm, and whether you are a couple, same-sex or single.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether IUI is the right step, natural vs stimulated, partner vs donor sperm, indicative price per cycle, and how many cycles are sensible before escalating to IVF.
- 03
Before
Consultation and baseline scan
Day-2 or day-3 pelvic ultrasound, baseline hormones, semen analysis (or donor sperm selection), and HFEA consent forms — welfare-of-the-child assessment where the law requires it.
- 04
Cycle
Monitoring through the cycle
LH kits at home for a natural cycle; two or three ultrasounds for a stimulated cycle. The trigger injection is timed the evening the lead follicle is ready.
- 05
Cycle
The insemination itself
Around 36 hours after the trigger. Sperm is prepared in the andrology lab, then placed into the uterus through a fine catheter. Five to ten minutes, no anaesthesia, a mild cramp at most.
- 06
Cycle
The two-week wait
Home the same hour. Normal activity from day one. Progesterone support if prescribed. Pregnancy test at day 14 — blood test at the clinic or a home test if you prefer.
- 07
After
Result and next step
A positive test is followed by an early pregnancy scan at 7 weeks. A negative test is reviewed with the consultant — repeat, adjust, or escalate to IVF.
Typical end-to-end: 4 weeks from consultation to result. Cumulative programme: 3–6 cycles before considering IVF.
When it helps
When IUI is the right first step.
The situations we see most, plus the honest list of situations where IUI is the wrong tool and IVF is the sensible plan from day one.
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Mild male factor
Borderline sperm concentration or motility, where more than 10 million motile sperm are recovered after preparation.
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Sexual dysfunction
Physical or psychological reasons that make timed intercourse impossible — IUI removes that step altogether.
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Cervical factor infertility
Anti-sperm antibodies or hostile cervical mucus — rare on modern investigation, but IUI bypasses the cervix completely.
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Same-sex female couples
Donor sperm from an HFEA-licensed bank, placed into the uterus in a monitored cycle — the most common IUI indication we see.
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Single women using donor sperm
Solo parenthood by choice. Full HFEA consent, welfare-of-the-child assessment, and identity-release donor for the child at 18.
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HIV-serodiscordant couples
Sperm washing followed by IUI is the standard of care to minimise transmission risk when trying to conceive naturally is not safe.
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Unexplained infertility (selected cases)
Normal tubes, normal semen, normal ovulation — three to six IUI cycles is an option before IVF, per updated NICE guidance.
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Not right for you if…
Blocked or damaged tubes, severe male factor, age over 39, moderate-to-severe endometriosis, or persistent anovulation — IVF is the honest recommendation.
Cycle options
Not all IUI cycles look the same.
What each option actually involves — natural vs stimulated, partner vs donor, and the specialist pathways for HIV-serodiscordant couples.
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Natural cycle IUI
No stimulation. LH kits at home track ovulation; insemination the day after the surge, or 36 hours after a small trigger injection.
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Stimulated cycle IUI (oral)
Low-dose clomiphene or letrozole tablets from day 2. Mid-cycle scan, trigger, insemination — the commonest stimulated protocol.
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Stimulated cycle IUI (gonadotrophin)
Low-dose subcutaneous FSH (Gonal-F, Menopur). Higher pregnancy rate per cycle, but strict cancellation if more than three follicles.
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IUI with partner sperm
Fresh sample produced on the day, prepared by density gradient or swim-up in the andrology lab in about two hours.
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IUI with donor sperm
An HFEA-licensed sperm bank sample — UK or approved import — with identity-release donor and full HFEA consent for the intended parents.
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IUI with sperm washing (HIV-SD)
Sperm washing to minimise transmission risk in HIV-serodiscordant couples, followed by insemination in a monitored cycle.
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Double IUI
Two inseminations 24 hours apart in a single cycle — offered by some clinics for selected cases, evidence for extra benefit is limited.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether IUI is the right first step, or whether IVF should be the plan from day one.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of HFEA-licensed clinics, we picked them.
Fertility consultants across London and the major UK cities. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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HFEA-licensed clinic, inspected and regulated
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Consultant in reproductive medicine leads every plan
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Ultrasound monitoring for every stimulated cycle
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Strict cancellation criteria for multiple follicles
Safety and success
What to expect from a cycle — honestly.
IUI is a safe, short procedure. The trade-offs worth understanding are the twin risk on stimulated cycles, realistic per-cycle success rates, and knowing when to stop.
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A short, painless procedure
Five to ten minutes on a couch, no anaesthesia, no downtime. A mild period-like cramp is the most anyone usually feels.
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Success is per cycle, not per attempt
Live birth per cycle sits at roughly 5–15% depending on age, indication and whether the cycle was stimulated. Cumulative over 3–6 cycles: 20–40% for good-prognosis patients.
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Multiple pregnancy is the main trade-off
Stimulated cycles carry a 15–25% twin rate and 2–5% triplet rate. Strict monitoring and cancellation of over-response is how we keep it safe.
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OHSS is uncommon with IUI protocols
Ovarian hyperstimulation is rare because the doses used for IUI are much lower than IVF. Mild bloating and tenderness settle within days.
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Ectopic pregnancy risk is 1–2%
Slightly higher than natural conception. An early scan at 6–7 weeks confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus.
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Miscarriage rate is the same as natural
IUI does not change the background miscarriage rate for your age. Any bleeding after a positive test needs an urgent scan.
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Emotional load is real
Repeated cycles are hard. A named clinician, a clear plan, and an agreed stopping point make the process a lot less bruising.
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Know when to escalate
If three well-monitored cycles have not worked, IVF is usually the sensible next step — not more of the same.
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Red flags
Severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, breathlessness or shoulder-tip pain after IUI or a positive test — same-day A&E, not a clinic call.
Reading your cycle summary
Your cycle summary in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever protocol was used, the summary the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Fertility language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the cycle summary before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and cycle type
Why IUI was chosen — same-sex couple, donor conception, mild male factor, unexplained subfertility — and whether the cycle was natural or stimulated.
- 02 Technique
Stimulation, trigger and preparation
Which medication was used, follicle count and size on the trigger scan, and the post-preparation motile sperm count.
- 03 Findings
Insemination and any issues
The catheter used, whether the transfer was easy or difficult, volume inseminated, and any spotting or unusual symptoms noted.
- 04 Impression
Two-week wait plan and next cycle
Read this first: when to test, any progesterone support, and what happens for the next cycle if this one does not work.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Fertility cover varies significantly between UK insurers — most exclude assisted reproduction, some cover investigation only, a few cover IUI cycles for medically indicated patients. We confirm the position with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about IUI.
Quick answers on cost, success rates, natural vs stimulated cycles, and how donor sperm works under UK law.
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Who is IUI for?
Same-sex female couples and single women using donor sperm, couples with mild male factor infertility, couples where intercourse is not possible, HIV-serodiscordant couples using sperm washing, and — in selected cases — unexplained infertility before escalating to IVF.
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Who is IUI not right for?
IUI is the wrong tool if the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, if the sperm count is severely low (needs ICSI with IVF), if the female partner is over 39, or if there is moderate-to-severe endometriosis. In those cases, going straight to IVF is honest.
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Does IUI hurt?
Almost never. The catheter is very fine and no anaesthesia is used. Most people describe a mild period-like cramp for a few minutes and nothing after — you can walk out of the clinic and back to work the same hour.
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What is the success rate per cycle?
Live birth per cycle is roughly 5–15% depending on age, indication and cycle type. Cumulative over three to six cycles it reaches 20–40% for good-prognosis patients. Beyond that, IVF gives a much higher chance.
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How much does private IUI cost in the UK?
A natural cycle with partner sperm is £900–£1,400. A stimulated cycle is £1,200–£1,800 plus £200–£500 in medication. A donor sperm straw from an HFEA-licensed bank adds £1,000–£1,500 per attempt.
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Natural cycle or stimulated cycle — which is better?
Stimulated cycles have a slightly higher pregnancy rate but carry a 15–25% twin risk. Natural cycles are cheaper, gentler and much safer for multiples — often the right choice for same-sex couples with no fertility problem.
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How is donor sperm sourced in the UK?
Through an HFEA-licensed sperm bank in the UK, or an approved import. Since 2005 all UK-registered donors are identity-release: the child can access the donor’s identity at 18. Full HFEA consent is signed before treatment.
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How many IUI cycles should I try before IVF?
Three to six is the usual limit — three for stimulated cycles, up to six for donor IUI where the female partner has no fertility issue. If well-monitored cycles have not worked, IVF is the sensible next step.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
The next step when IUI is not enough — or the right first step for some.
Learn more -
ICSI
IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection for severe male factor.
Learn more -
Donor insemination
Donor sperm treatment for same-sex couples and single women.
Learn more -
Egg collection and transfer
The two theatre steps at the heart of an IVF cycle.
Learn more