Insemination - The Difference Between IUI and ICI

IUI stands for IntraUterine Insemination
ICI stands for  IntraCervical Insemination

We offer two types of donor sperm in both IUI units and ICI units to suit your insemination approach.

If you wish to purchase ICI units, you can do it by contacting us here.

IUI sperm units can be used in all types of fertility treatments. ICI units are limited to vaginal insemination and instances where your fertility specialist prefers to process the sperm themselves. 

When viewing donors, you’ll be able to see how many ICI and IUI units we have in storage for each specific donor. 

Read on for a more detailed explanation of the two types. Plus, learn more about MOT – motile sperm cells - and why they matter.

• IUI units are primarily prepared and used for IntraUterine Insemination, where sperm is inserted directly into the uterus at a fertility clinic.

• We process IUI units directly in our lab. First we remove dead sperm and other cells – leaving only sperm cells behind – before freezing them with a preservative that ensures optimal pH levels. The units are then ready-to-use by fertility clinics - no further processing needed.

• During insemination, the fertility clinic professionals insert the IUI units directly into the uterus via a catheter that runs through the cervical canal. This helps more sperm cells reach the egg in the fallopian tubes, increasing the number of sperm available for fertilisation.

• ICI units are prepared for IntraCervical Insemination, where donor sperm is placed in the vagina, close to the cervix.

• We process the donor sperm into ICI units containing all the natural ejaculation fluid and cells, which are then inserted into the vagina by your chosen specialist. Similarly to natural intercourse, only the most motile sperm cells will make it into the uterus and fallopian tubes via the cervix and cervical fluid.

• Due to the risk of severe allergic reaction, unpurified sperm cannot be inserted into the uterus. That’s why ICI units cannot be used in IntraUterine Insemination without being purified by the clinic first. And because purification reduces the amount of forward-swimming sperm in a unit (MOT), we recommend ordering IUI units for any IUI procedure.

What Does MOT Mean

MOT indicates the amount of motile sperm cells - sperm cells that are forward-moving. It is often measured in millions per ml. 

Our sperm units are manufactured to include the optimal amount of motile sperm cells for IUI and ICI treatments. 

For our ICI units, we guarantee 20 million motile sperm cells and a minimum of 1 ml per unit.

Our IUI units contain 0,5 ml and display ranges of either MOT5+, MOT10+ or MOT20+ per ml. This amounts to 10 million - 2.5 million forward-swimming sperm cells respectively. 

Units can be physically delivered in 1 - 4 vials, depending on the amount of motile sperm cells per vial. 

How Many Units Should I Order Per Treatment?

IUI Treatment
A minimum of 1 IUI unit MOT20+ or 2 IUI units MOT10+ per treatment.
IVF and ICSI treatment
1 IUI unit MOT5+, MOT10+ or possibly 1 IUI unit MOT20+ per treatment.

ICI treatment
A minimum of 1 unit MOT20+.