A simpler first
step in fertility care.

TIC (timed intercourse) uses cycle monitoring to predict your most fertile days, and conception happens at home through intercourse or home insemination. IUI (intrauterine insemination) is a clinic procedure where washed sperm is placed directly into your uterus around ovulation. IUI bypasses the cervix, increasing the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes.

Lower intervention care is often the right first step. Your specialist may recommend it for unexplained infertility, mild sperm count or motility issues, irregular ovulation, donor sperm cycles (single parents, LGBTQ2S+ families), or patients who simply want to try a less invasive option before considering IVF.

We typically recommend 2 to 4, but not more than 6 cycles before considering IVF, depending on your age, diagnosis, and goals. Your specialist will give you a personal range during your consult, and we revisit the plan after each cycle so you’re never moving forward without context.

Most patients find it similar to a Pap test. The procedure takes about 5 minutes and uses a thin, flexible catheter to place the sperm sample through the cervix into the uterus. Some patients have mild cramping or spotting for a day or two afterwards, but most return to normal activities right away.

Not always. Your specialist may recommend an oral medication to help your ovaries produce more mature eggs, or to support cycles with ovulation issues. Some TIC and IUI cycles are done in a natural cycle without medication. Your plan is built around what’s most likely to work for you.

From your Day 1 contact through the pregnancy test, a single cycle takes about 4 to 5 weeks. Most cycle monitoring visits happen between Day 3 and Day 14, with the IUI procedure (if applicable) around Day 13 to 15, and your pregnancy test 2 weeks later.

Yes. Donor sperm (anonymous, open-ID, or known) is welcome at Twig. We coordinate with major Canadian and US sperm banks. If you’re using a known donor, we will walk you through every step of the Health Canada screening process.

In Ontario, cycle monitoring is covered by OHIP when ordered as part of a TIC or IUI cycle. In BC, MSP does not cover cycle monitoring, so it’s included in the TIC or IUI cycle fee at Twig Vancouver.

IUI pregnancy rates depend on your age, the reason for doing IUI, and whether medications are used. Rather than a single headline number, your specialist will give you a personalized estimate at your consult, drawing on published Canadian and US data.

At-home tracking (apps, ovulation predictor kits, basal body temperature) can be useful; however, cycle monitoring at Twig uses bloodwork (estradiol, LH) and ultrasound to actually see what is happening in your ovaries and to confirm when ovulation will happen, often within a 24-hour window. For most patients, the difference is several days of useful precision and the ability to add a trigger shot or medication if needed.

Your specialist is your specialist throughout. Cycle monitoring visits are typically run by the nursing team, and we work hard to keep continuity wherever possible. If your usual nurse isn’t available, every team member has full access to your chart and your plan, so nothing is missed.

Fertility medications (typically $50 to $200 per cycle), donor sperm if used, and sperm freezing if needed, are not included. Your care team confirms every cost with you before you commit.