In this article:
What is IUI?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility therapy in which sperm is purposely placed within a woman's uterus at the time of to aid in fertilisation. The goal of IUI, which is generally commonly administered in an office setting by a fertility specialist or nurse, is to increase the quantity of sperm that enter the fallopian tubes and so enhance the odds of fertilisation.Reasons to do IUI
If you're under 35 years old and have been trying to conceive for 12 months, or if you're over 35 and have been trying for six months, you should consult with a fertility expert. You will have a fertility workup, which includes a battery of blood tests and ultrasounds to assess your ovarian reserve, uterine shape, tubal shapes, hormone levels, and your partner's sperm count. If the findings indicate minor abnormalities and anomalies in your partner's sperm but your own results are normal, experts think you're an excellent candidate for IUI.How Does IUI Work?
Unlike ICI (intracervical insemination), which places sperm in the cervical area, IUI tries to reduce the distance between sperm and egg by putting sperm directly into the uterus. Your fertility specialist may prescribe medication at the start of your cycle to stimulate your ovaries to produce several eggs. Just before the IUI procedure, your partner's sperm is processed, which isolates the strongest sperm into a small volume of fluid. During ovulation sperm is inserted by catheter into your uterus near the fallopian tube, where there is a better probability of a large number of sperm reaching the egg. What Does the IUI Process Look Like?
If your fertility team recommends fertility medications, you'll begin taking them early in your menstrual cycle. Your ovulation will be tracked using either a home ovulation test or an ultrasound at the clinic. You'll then contact the clinic when you're at peak fertility or when specialists can tell that your follicles are 18 millimetres in diameter. Your doctor may give an hCG injection—the trigger shot—to encourage ovulation; if this occurs, your IUI will be scheduled within 36 hours.On the day of your IUI session, you'll give them the sperm sample—whether from your partner or a donor—which takes approximately an hour to wash. After the less than five-minute IUI procedure, you can be asked to unwind on the examination table for some time.
Here is the process explained:
1. Ovulation
Your healthcare practitioner will need to know precisely when you ovulate. The timing of ovulation is essential in ensuring that sperm is administered at the appropriate moment.The timing of ovulation may be determined using an at-home ovulation prediction kit that detects luteinizing hormone (LH). Your doctor may also detect LH in blood testing. They may also employ transvaginal ultrasound to detect mature eggs. You may be given an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or other fertility drugs to induce ovulation and produce one or more eggs. Ovulation normally happens between 10 and 16 days following the first day of your cycle.
Insemination (the insertion of sperm into your uterus) normally happens 24 to 36 hours after LH is found (in your blood or urine) or after the hCG injection.
2. Semen sample preparation
On the day of the IUI process, your partner will deliver a new sperm sample. In certain situations, your partner may supply the sample ahead of time, and your healthcare professional can freeze it until ready for use. If you're utilising a sperm donor, the sample will be thawed and ready.A method known as "sperm washing" extracts a concentrated quantity of healthy sperm in preparation for insemination. If you use donor sperm, the sperm bank will normally supply pre-washed sperm.
3. Insemination
The insemination method is straightforward and just takes a few minutes. You will lie down on the examination table. Your healthcare professional will place a speculum into your vagina, similar to what occurs during a Pap test. Then, a catheter is placed through your cervix into your uterus. Finally, your healthcare professional will inject the cleaned sperm sample into your uterus.You may be instructed to lie down for 10 to 30 minutes after insemination. Pregnancy occurs when sperm fertilises an egg, which then implants in the lining of your uterus.
You may be administered progesterone following an IUI. Progesterone helps to maintain the uterine lining and might increase the chances of implantation.
You may take a pregnancy test around two weeks following IUI.
Please visit your healthcare professional to have a better grasp of the IUI procedure and what to anticipate.
What Are the Risks of IUI?
IUI is a low-risk alternative to more intrusive reproductive therapies such as IVF. Some of the risks associated with IUI are:Multiple births: Taking fertility medicine may cause you to release more than one egg. This raises the likelihood of being pregnant with twins, triplets, or more. Pregnancy with multiple infants increases the risk of and low birth weight.
- Infection: This is uncommon
- Spotting: The surgery may cause a small amount of vaginal bleeding.
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an uncommon adverse effect induced by using too much reproductive medication. OHSS causes the ovaries to become painful and enlarged.
What Are The Most Often Reported IUI Side Effects?
Some individuals have side effects from reproductive medicines. The most common negative effects of insemination are cramps and spotting.IUI may be psychologically and physically challenging. Couples or individuals suffering from infertility and exploring assisted reproductive technologies often experience depression. If you're feeling dissatisfied or overwhelmed, speak with your healthcare professional so they can guide you through the process.
What To Expect During The IUI Procedure?
The IUI procedure to have a pap smear is to lie down on the exam table and place your feet in stirrups, your doctor or nurse will insert a speculum and a thin, flexible catheter with a vial of healthy sperm at the end. They will insert the catheter into your vagina, past the cervical opening, and into your uterus, pushing the sperm sample through the tube.Is It Painful To Undergo IUI?
Intrauterine insemination may not be completely painless, but it is not extremely painful either. There may be a little bit of cramping as the sperm is injected, and some women are more sensitive than others to the feeling of the catheter through the uterus, but in general, it's not a painful procedure.What Happens After IUI?
Your fertility team may ask you to lie on the table for a few minutes following your IUI process, but there is no evidence to indicate that staying in any specific posture for longer is beneficial. In general, there aren't any side effects. The day of the IUI or the day following, you are free to have sex; you may also resume your regular exercise routine and do jumping jacks all the way down the hallway.Following an IUI, you may suffer faint spotting or moderate cramps. Cramping following an IUI treatment might be caused by the catheter irritating your uterus or by ovulation, particularly if you use fertility medicines and are releasing many follicles. Severe cramps are rare, and you should contact your doctor if you have them, as well as a temperature and/or unusual vaginal discharge.
How Soon, Then, Can You Do A Pregnancy Test After An IUI?
You will have to wait a full 14 days. Fertility specialists advise people to resist the temptation to test before the two-week mark. The trigger shot you received might cause a false positive, which takes time to get out of your system. Call your fertility clinic after you take your test, whether it's positive or negative, to schedule the required next steps. If you test positive, you will be seen on a regular basis to have your pregnancy, or yolk sac, checked. If your results are negative, you may wish to try another round of IUI or begin a new fertility treatment course.Is IUI a better option than IVF?
IUI is less expensive and less intrusive than IVF, thus most individuals will attempt it first. In rare situations, your healthcare physician may conclude that IUI is not an option for you and instead propose . This may be related to age or the underlying cause of infertility. One therapy is not superior to the other, although one may increase your chances of conceiving.When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider?
If you use fertility medicines for IUI, you should notify your healthcare practitioner if any of the following occur:- Severe abdominal or pelvic pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden weight increase
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
FAQs on IUI: Your Guide to Intrauterine Insemination
- Is IUI completely successful?
As per research, if you have two fallopian tubes and high-quality, healthy sperm, your chances of becoming pregnant with IUI are between 7% and 10% every cycle. - What age is appropriate for IUI?
Under the age of 35, when women are traditionally considered fertile, the odds of success using intrauterine insemination are roughly 20%.
