If you are facing infertility issues, you can consider Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). It might help you start your family.
Here is all you need to know about the treatment.
What is IUI
IUI or Intra Uterine Insemination is a procedure of placing your partner’s sperm directly into your uterus at the time your ovary releases eggs, in order to facilitate fertilization.
How does IUI work
IUI works through two methods.
- Medication is used to help stimulate ovulation just in time before the procedure. Then, you are monitored to see when the eggs mature. The sperm is then prepared, by separating from the seminal fluid and placed into the uterus.
- In the second method, the sperm is directly placed into the uterus with the help of a thin, flexible catheter. The sperm has then to find the egg before the egg travels into the fallopian tube. The procedure takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
IUI is performed around the time of ovulation, which is indicated by the increase in Luteinizing hormone. The procedure is carried out 24-36 hours after the surge.
So in IUI, the sperm, which otherwise has to swim through the vagina and the cervix before entering the uterus, meets the egg easily.
Are you the best candidate for IUI ?
IUI is recommended for those couples who could not conceive through natural means. If couples under 35 have had unprotected sex for up to one year, and those over 35, have had unprotected sex for up to six months, and still not conceived, they may opt for IUI.
IUI is an ideal treatment option if you or your partner has:
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Mild male factor Infertility
- No tubal disease
- Sperm are frozen in advance of ovulation
IUI is not an ideal treatment option in the following cases:
- Severe endometriosis
- Severe male factor fertility
- A disease affecting the fallopian tubes
- Medical history of pelvic adhesions
How can you prepare for IUI
In any infertility treatment, the first step is to do some routine testing to make sure if IUI is right for you.
- An X-ray test is done to confirm that you have at least one open fallopian tube.
- Ovarian reserve is examined to determine if you have a healthy number of viable eggs present. IUI might be ideal if you have a healthy ovarian reserve.
- A semen analysis is done to check for sperm density and sperm quality. If healthy sperm is produced at a regular sperm count, IUI should help increase conception rates.
- Your partner is tested for infectious diseases.
As you prepare for IUI, practice a healthy lifestyle. Your partner must not ejaculate for at least 2-3 days prior to the procedure. This is to improve the quality of the sperm.
How is IUI beneficial
The chances of getting pregnant is increased by IUI as it gives the sperm a head start and maximizes the number of sperm entering the uterus to meet the egg for fertilization.
Does IUI hurt
A mild discomfort, due to cramping can be felt, when the catheter is inserted into the uterus through the cervix. But most of the women do not find it painful as the procedure takes very little time. And the pain goes away, shortly after the procedure is completed.
What are the Risks of IUI
- Multiple Pregnancy
There is a risk of multiple pregnancies if you are taking ovary stimulating medication before your IUI treatment. Since the medication initiates the maturity of many follicles containing as many eggs as possible, there is a possibility that your body releases more than one egg during ovulation. In this case, you may become pregnant with twins. There is a chance of this happening in 10 to 20% of IUI cases.
- Infection
There may be a slight risk of developing an infection.
- Spotting
A small amount of vaginal bleeding may occur when the catheter is inserted. It does not affect pregnancy though.
How is IUI different from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Though both procedures show many differences, there are similarities too.
Similarities:
- Both IUI and IVF may include fertility drugs to increase success rates in fertilization or in the case of IVF, to assist in ovulation and help in egg retrieval.
- Both treatments include methods to isolate the highest quality sperm from the semen samples, for use in the fertilization process.
- For both treatments to be successful, an egg has to be fertilized and then implanted in the lining of the uterus, which then leads to the development of an embryo/ embryos.
Differences:
- In IUI, fertilization takes place internally, whereas in IVF, fertilization takes place outside the uterus in a lab, through a short egg retrieval procedure.
- IVF has higher success rates than IUI.
- IUI is considerably less expensive than IVF.
- IUI is less invasive than IVF.
You must try three rounds of IUI before trying IVF.
What factors determine the success of a IUI treatment
The success of IUI depends on:
- Age of the female
- Use of fertility drugs
- Reason for infertility
Chances of success increase with the use of fertility drugs.
How much does IUI cost
IUI treatment cost is lesser than that of IVF.
Goodwill, the best IVF, and Fertility Center in Kerala is acclaimed as the topmost IUI treatment center. We perform IUI procedures with high success rates. Our team of specialists makes every effort to consider your case with a personalized approach and works wholeheartedly towards the realization of your dreams.
Visit Goodwill, and feel free to discuss your infertility problems. We’ll plan the right treatment for you.
