IUI – Intrauterine Insemination

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a form of artificial insemination. During ovulation, concentrated and cleansed sperm are directly deposited into your uterus. This process aids the movement of viable sperm towards the egg released from your ovaries. IUI is a common fertility procedure for individuals or couples wishing to conceive.

You can always seek advice on whether or not IUI is a procedure that suits your needs. Dr. Matthios Fraidakis and his team of fertility specialists have been helping patients for 35 years, an amount of experience that ensures that every question you have about IUI will be answered.

What is intrauterine insemination, or IUI?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a type of artificial insemination. It involves injecting sperm directly into a patient’s uterus.

For natural conception, sperm must travel from your vagina through your cervix, uterus, and into your fallopian tubes. Only about 5% of sperm make it from the vagina to the uterus. An egg is released from your ovary into the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs when sperm and egg meet. In IUI, sperm is extracted, cleaned, and concentrated. This ensures only high-quality sperm remain. This sperm is then inserted directly into your uterus via a catheter, a thin tube. This method places the sperm closer to your fallopian tubes. IUI shortens the sperm’s journey, making sperm-egg contact easier. Consequently, your chances of getting pregnant increase.

Medical professionals often try IUI before more invasive and expensive fertility treatments. IUI can use either donor sperm or sperm from your partner. Fertility medications may be taken to ensure eggs are released during ovulation.

What is the purpose of IUI?

IUI is a popular option for several reasons. It addresses various infertility issues. Additionally, it allows same-sex couples or single women to use sperm donors to conceive a child.

In the following situations, intrauterine insemination, or IUI, may be used:

  • Issues with your cervix, such as issues with mucus. Your cervix acts as a barrier between your uterus and vagina. It secretes mucus that helps sperm travel from the vagina to the uterus and then to the fallopian tubes. When the mucus is thick, it can hinder the sperm’s swimming ability. With IUI, sperm are directly introduced into your uterus, bypassing the cervix.
  • Low sperm count or other problems with sperm. Semen analysis is a key part of infertility treatment. It may reveal that your partner has a low sperm count or sperm that are small, weak, slow, or abnormally shaped. IUI addresses these issues by selecting and using only high-quality sperm for treatment.
  • Donor sperm is what you’re using. In vitro fertilization (IUI) is used when sperm from someone other than the birth parent’s partner is needed. This is known as donor insemination (DI). DI comes into play when one partner lacks sperm or the sperm quality is too poor for use. Additionally, donor sperm is an option for same-sex couples or single women wishing to conceive.
  • Erection of ejaculation malfunction. IUI may be an option when one partner struggles with ejaculation or maintaining an erection.
  • Allergy to semen. Rarely, some individuals develop an allergy to their partner’s semen. This can cause redness, swelling, and burning in the vagina. Sperm washing in IUI removes allergy-causing proteins. Thus, IUI can be a successful solution in these cases.
  • Unknown cause of infertility. This is the situation in which infertility cannot be diagnosed.

How long does it take to complete the IUI process?

The IUI process spans about four weeks, or 28 days, from start to finish. This duration is similar to that of a typical menstrual cycle.

  • Before starting the IUI process, both you and your partner will undergo a comprehensive evaluation. This may include blood tests, semen analysis, ultrasound, and other diagnostic procedures.
  • Some individuals may take injectable medication for up to two weeks or oral fertility drugs for five days. These medications enhance ovulation and the release of multiple eggs. However, not everyone requires these prescription drugs.
  • Insemination is a swift process. The actual sperm insertion takes just a few minutes. After the procedure, your doctor may recommend lying down for about fifteen minutes.
  • You should wait two weeks after insemination to take a pregnancy test.

Is IUI effective?

The success rate of IUI varies depending on the cause of infertility. It is most effective for ejaculation issues, cervical mucus problems, and unexplained infertility. However, IUI may not work in cases like fallopian tube diseases, endometriosis, or severe sperm impairment. In such situations, IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatments might be a more effective option.

What distinguishes intrauterine insemination, or IUI, from in vitro fertilization?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) differ significantly. IUI involves fertilization inside the fallopian tube. Its aim is to isolate the best sperm from a sperm sample. During ovulation, this sample is introduced into your uterus via a catheter. This method makes it easier for sperm to reach the egg, aiding fertilization.

On the other hand, IVF fertilizes the sperm and egg outside the body, in a lab. The resulting embryo is then placed in your uterus. IUI is less invasive and more affordable than IVF, but it typically has a lower success rate per cycle.

Process Specifics

What stages are involved in IUI treatment?

Each healthcare professional and treatment plan may follow a somewhat different procedure. Typical IUI treatment entails the following:

Ovulation

  • Your healthcare provider needs to know the precise timing of your menstruation. Accurately timing ovulation is crucial for administering sperm at the right moment.
  • You can use an at-home ovulation prediction kit to estimate ovulation time. It detects luteinizing hormone (LH). Blood tests can also show LH levels to your healthcare provider. Transvaginal ultrasonography might be used to look for signs of mature eggs. Sometimes, you may receive an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or other fertility drugs. This helps induce ovulation of one or more eggs. Ovulation usually occurs 10–16 days after the start of your period.
  • Insemination, the process of placing sperm into your uterus, typically happens 24 to 36 hours after the hCG injection. It can also occur when LH is detected in your blood or urine.

Preparing a semen sample

  • On the day of IUI, your spouse provides a fresh sperm sample. Sometimes, your spouse may give the sample in advance. In this case, your healthcare professional can freeze it until needed. If using a sperm donor, the sample will be thawed and prepared for use.
  • Sperm are prepared for insemination through “sperm washing.” This process extracts a concentrated amount of healthy sperm. If you are using donor sperm from a sperm bank, it often arrives already washed.

Insemination

  • The insemination process is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. You will lie on the exam table, similar to a Pap test. Your healthcare professional will insert a speculum into your vagina. Then, they will place a catheter through your cervix into your uterus. Finally, the cleaned sperm sample is injected into your uterus.
  • You may be asked to lie down for ten to thirty minutes after insemination. Pregnancy occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg, and the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining.
  • You might receive progesterone after IUI. Progesterone helps increase the chances of implantation and maintains the uterine lining.
  • About two weeks after IUI, you can take a pregnancy test.

For the greatest explanation of the IUI procedure and what to anticipate, please speak with the Fertility specialists in Chania Fertility Unit.

How do you get ready for an IUI procedure?

You will require fertility tests and a comprehensive medical examination prior to beginning IUI treatment. There will also be testing and examinations for your companion. This might consist of:

  • an examination of the uterus.
  • your uterus’s ultrasound results.
  • an analysis of semen.
  • checking for infectious diseases and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  • blood examinations.

Taking folic acid, which is present in most prenatal vitamins, at least three months before to conception (or IUI treatment) may be advised by your healthcare professional.

What can you anticipate from an IUI procedure?

You may have the following mild symptoms following IUI:

  • slight cramps.
  • observing for a day or two.

Most people can resume their normal activities right after IUI. You should avoid anything that causes discomfort, but there are usually no restrictions. A pregnancy test can be taken about two weeks following IUI.

How painful is the IUI procedure?

IUI doesn’t require anesthesia, and the procedure is typically painless. However, you might feel slight cramping during and just after insemination.

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