Everything you need to know about intrauterine insemination
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is one of the first and most effective treatments for infertility out there. During an IUI procedure, cleaned sperm are inserted into your uterus while you are ovulating. The goal of this process is to allow the sperm to fertilize an egg, ending hopefully in pregnancy. IUI is often used by couples grappling with male infertility, unexplained infertility, and cervical factor infertility. Make sure to consult your healthcare provider if you are considering infertility treatments.
IUI basics:
IUI is a safe and painless procedure that can be completed in a doctor’s office in a short period of time. During the procedure, a doctor inserts a catheter containing a semen sample inside your vagina all the way to your uterus, releasing the semen inside. After the procedure, all you need to do is wait the customary two weeks to take a pregnancy test — you do not need to rest, and most women experience little to no side effects.
Some women undergo IUI while using other fertility treatments such as follicle-stimulating hormone. This medication increases egg production and can lead to higher success rates than with couples using natural ovulation. Undergoing IUI while using this medication is often linked to increased probability of multiple births due to the presence of additional eggs in the uterus.
IUI is among the first assisted reproductive technologies that patients and providers turn to in order to help couples conceive, as it is effective, and far less costly than IVF or other procedures.
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Sources
- UCLA Fertility and Reproductive Health Center. "Fertility Questions Answered." UCLA Health. UCLA Fertility and Reproductive Health Center, n.d. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. "Intrauterine insemination (IUI)." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 6/29/2013. Web.
