IUI vs. IVF

Sorry if this sounds silly but I just recently found out that DH has low sperm count, not horribly low but low enough to make it difficult to get pregnant on our own. What is the difference between IUI and IVF, I have heard alot of ladies talk about it on this site but not sure which one would be best for us. Is there a percentage rate of which one works better in getting pregnant?
Thanks for the help in advance.
BABY DUST!!!!!

[jen_KE]

IUI is basically insemination and IVF is actually fertilizing the egg with the sperm outside the body, then they inject the egg into the woman.  I think IVF is a step you take after IUI if it's not successful.  IUI isn't cheap, but typically IVF can be almost $10,000 (at least that is how much a friend paid and it wasn't covered by ins!)

[shaydy]

Thanks, wow that is pricey!!! Do you know what they reccomend for low sperm count?

[jen_KE]

Do you mean which procedure, or for just TTC in general?  I think in general (from what I've learned here on this board)  you should only BD every other day or even every 3 days.  As far as which procedure, then I think they start with IUI for low sperm count.  I'm not an expert at all, but from what my friends have gone through, IVF is way down the line in options.

[anniesland]

I'm going to be doing ivf and it's going to cost $12,000 thats including meds, dh sperm wash and frezze and the procedure!

[shaydy]

Thank you for your help. I will look into making an appointment.
Thanks

[misseltoe]

It's really best that you talk to an R.E. about this.  I know that IVF is recommended for low sperm count.  If the sperm count is too low they won't even try IUI.  

I hope your husband is working on getting his sperm count higher.  There are real ways to make this happen.  There are a lot of vitamins and herbs out there to help with this.  It means taking a lot of pills a day, but a few months of it usually does increase the count.

Have you had a fertility work up?  I assume that if your husband knows he has a low sperm count you've been worked up too.  If not that should be your next step.  Even if you seem perfectly fine there could be a problem.  

You don't say how long you've been ttc.  If you haven't been trying that long I'd get the vitamins and herbs to increase your husband's sperm count and wait for them to start working.  You could easily set a time limit.  Like six months.  During that time you could also be making an appointment with a R.E. which can take months to get.  A friend of mine had to wait six months for her appointment.  

[latina_love_goddess]

the way i look at it is this way: if you ins pays for the treatment...why not just be agreesive and go "all the way" with IVF and not waste your time on something esle...what you go to loose?  I had good ins and my doc say I could take any approach so we went for a SURE FIRE thing.  Great clinic good numbers with the problility...one little egg implanted and one little baby we got...i'm 27wk with a healthy baby boy through 1 tx of IVF.  good luck.