What Is IUI Treatment?

IUI (intrauterine insemination) is a relatively simple infertility treatment. In this treatment washed sperm is placed with the use of a very small tube, into the uterus. The other term that is commonly used for IUI is Artificial Insemination. We have a large number of patients who enquire about IUI and how it works.

When fertility treatments above & beyond the use of fertility drugs are being considered, intrauterine insemination might be the first one that is tried. It’s much simpler do these, compared to assist reproductive technologies such as IVF , and it costs a great deal less too.

When Is Intrauterine Insemination Treatment Used?

Intrauterine insemination may be used when:

•    the  woman’s cervical mucus is much less than ideal, IUI becomes  the preferred  treatment
•    using only Clomid (clomiphene citrate) doesn't help
•    using donor sperm
•    for patients with unexplained infertility, who are looking for a less expensive option as compared to IVF treatment. The pregnancy rate is lower, but since  the cost difference is high, couples are able to  afford  more cycles with it

IUI- The Procedure

Fertility drugs aren’t always used in the IUI procedure, but a number of doctors prefer using Clomid (an ovulation drug) to increase the chances of success. Others will want to superovulate you using HMG injections to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

•    Regardless of whether you are using fertility drugs  or not, your doctor  may ask you  to use a good ovulation predictor  kit  at home for the  cycle that this treatment is  going  to be used in
•    Once you have detected  the LH surge (this hormone is at its  highest just before ovulation & can be detected by these ovulation kits), you will have to call your doctor
•    Ovulation can also be tracked with the help of serial ultrasound scans ( follicular monitoring)
•    In case your partner’s sperm is being  used (and not a donor’s), he will be given  details about sperm collection (in some cases it may  be done at the clinic while in others, it could be done at  home)
•    The collected sperm will be processed in the lab  to separate and concentrate the best sperm in a small volume of culture medium
•    The doctor will then use a thin tube called a catheter to place these sperm into your uterus via your cervix
•    It’s a  painless treatment, though  there could  be slightly  cramping
•    Either the doctor or the  nurse will perform this  procedure


Some IUI Facts

•    In the case  of male infertility, IVF/ICSI is a much better choice
•    It’s a good option when a sperm donor is being used. This is especially  true when  there are no  female infertility factors
•    If hostile cervical mucus is the reason of infertility, IUI becomes a good treatment choice. Even in this case, the woman’s age and male  infertility  factors  have to be taken  into account

It’s a fact that IUI is far more cost-effective compared to IVF. This lower cost is what makes it attractive to a number of patients. However, it has  to be understood  that this  treatment will not work in  every  infertility case and only  your IVF  doctor will be able  to tell you whether  it’s a good choice  for you. In some situations, keeping the chances of success in view, IVF may be a much better option.

Need more information? Please send me your medical details by filling in the form at www.drmalpani.com/free-second-opinion so that I can guide you better!