Navigating Fertility Treatments
Find the one that's right for you
Want to know which fertility treatment is right for you? Think of this as fertility treatment 101. We’re here to debunk myths, unpack confusion and instil confidence. From at-home insemination treatments like ICI to syringes, conception cups and clinic treatment, let us guide you through the options for every stage.
At-Home Treatments
IVI
Intravaginal insemination
What is it?
IVI usually involves a syringe-based product (great brands like Mosie baby and TwoPlus do them well). The syringe injects semen into the opening of the vaginal canal where it can travel up to the cervix.
Pros:
- A good first step
- Usually the cheapest option on the market
- Doesn't require intercourse
Cons:
- A syringe deposits semen in the vagina which essentially mimics intercourse. Syringes can only reach so far into the vaginal canal, meaning the vaginal pH can reduce sperm quality before it reaches the cervix.
Conception Cups
What are they?
Conception cups work very similarly to menstrual cups. They are inserted into the vagina after intercourse to keep semen in place and encourage conception. As with IVI, some people like to start here as it can feel like an easy first step to try whilst you're still focussed on timed intercourse.
Pros:
- Usually a cheap option
- Can often be reused
Cons:
- Requires intercourse before insertion
- No good data to prove this method works
- Despite looking a bit like our cervical cap - it is by no means as effective. Read more about the differences between menstrual cups and our cervical cap here
ICI (That's us!)
Intracervical insemination
Efficacy: Around 39.8% over 3 cycles
What is it?
Béa combines a clinical-grade fertility treatment called intracervical insemination (ICI) alongside embryologist-led support, to guide you through every phase.
Our clinical-grade Béa Applicator reaches right up to the cervix, much further than intravaginal insemination (IVI), like syringes can. With a full twist of the handle on the Béa Applicator, the cervical cap (which is folded neatly inside the Béa Applicator, and contains the semen you pour into it), is deployed onto the cervix. The cap stays in place for 1 hour, protecting sperm and maximising your chances of pregnancy.
Pros:
- Increases sperm concentration in cervical mucus by 3.23x
- Reduces semen backflow
- Minimises contact of semen in vagina (where the pH can be detrimental to sperm motility and the ability to reach an egg)
- Expert led care team
More about the science of ICI...
Recognised by the NHS, the Béa Treatment is designed to perform intracervical insemination (ICI) from the comfort of your home.
ICI improves the chance of conceiving by encouraging more sperm to travel towards the egg for fertilisation. Our patent-pending Béa Applicator has been designed to bypass the bacteria in the vaginal canal that can be harmful to sperm to concentrate semen at the opening of the cervix using a cervical cap. This delivers up to 3.23x more sperm to the cervix than sexual intercourse, vaginal straw or syringe insemination (IVI).
The Béa Treatment is suitable for people suffering from various fertility conditions and can improve their chances of conceiving. Find out more about The Béa Treatment Kit below, or take our 2minute assessment to understand more about if it could work for you.
Clinical Treatments
If you think you might need clinical support, we recommend first speaking with your GP about the best options for you.
IUI
Interuterine insemination
Efficacy: Up to 50% over 6 cycles
What is it?
IUI places sperm directly in the uterus so it is closer to the egg at the time of ovulation. It can be performed during the menstrual cycle around ovulation or with fertility drugs during a medicated cycle at a fertility clinic.
Pros:
- Works well with frozen sperm
- Cheaper than IVF
- Clinical expert support during treatment
Cons:
- Not suitable for people with unexplained fertility or mild endometriosis
- NHS waitlists can be long
- Can not be performed at home
- Sometimes performed in a medicated cycle
Read our blog post below for more detail
IVF
In Vitro Fertilisation
What is it?
This is the process in which eggs are stimulated with hormones then fertilised in a lab. Those fertilised eggs (embryos) are then implanted into the uterus. IVF can be a recommended treatment option for those with a known infertility diagnosis or for those who have tried to conceive through intercourse for 2 years where no diagnosis has been established.
Pros:
- Has the highest efficacy rates of the different treatment options on the market
- Can help those with more severe fertility conditions
- Clinical expert support during treatment
Cons:
- The most expensive treatment options, which often feels like a last resort or unaffordable for some
- NHS waitlists
- Invasive clinical treatment
- Requires hormone stimulation with daily injections over 2-4 weeks
- A big commitment with multiple visits to a fertility clinic
Not all at-home insemination treatments are equal, this is how the Béa Treatment differs...
Three simple steps to get started
Putting the control back in your hands
1. Take our assessment
Our 2-min fertility assessment will tell you whether the Béa ICI Treatment is suitable for you.
Choose your treatment length
Invest in three-cycles to get the best price, or take it slow with a single-cycle-treatment for £249
Join a coaching session
Join one of our online sessions where you can ask our fertility experts, anything.