Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI)

Intra Uterine Insemination - IUI

What is IUI – Intra Uterine Insemination ?

Intrauterine Insemination commonly known as IUI ,is one of the many assisted methods of conception where concentrated and washed sperm is placed directly inside the uterus around the time when the ovary releases eggs to be fertilized. This is done in case of failed natural attempts or low sperm motility.

Why it’s Done?

An Intrauterine Insemination is useful in such cases where the pregnancy has a good chance of going smoothly, but fertilization is proving to be a challenge. For this, the sperm count, the motility and sperm quality has to be tested in men, and for women the general health of ovulation, patency of tubes, cervical factors, and presence of anti-sperm antibodies. need to be checked.

For men, it is recommended that they refrain from ejaculation for 2-3 days prior to the procedure. This improves the quality of sperm that is collected and increases the chances of conception. This is of course not applicable in case of donor insemination.

Women need to avoid stress and keep track of their ovulation cycle.

Is IUI Right for me ?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an effective treatment for many couples, provided certain prerequisites are fulfilled. For instance, the treatment is not normally advisable for women with blocked fallopian tubes, as the injected sperm may never reach the egg in such cases. Additionally, IUI may not prove fruitful for older women and women with poor egg reserves or severe endometriosis. In complex cases like these, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be favoured over IUI.

What you can expect

Generally, to improve the chances of artificial insemination, drugs that help create a stimulated cycle may be used.

When sperm is supplied by a sperm bank, it will be quarantined and frozen and hence needs to be thawed before use. When an ovum is released, semen is introduced into the woman’s uterus, vagina or cervix, depending on the artificial insemination method being used. In some cases, the sperm is inserted twice, within the same treatment cycle.

The washed sperm is injected into the uterus with the help of a catheter. It must be noted that in case unwashed semen is used, it might cause uterine cramping with the semen being instinctively expelled as a foreign body. The body needs time to assimilate anything and hence it is advised that a patient rest for a minimum time of 15 minutes, after an IUI. This, of course, helps to increase the chance of fertilization.

Steps involved in Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a simple, swift and painless procedure.This is because the introduction of sperm directly into the uterus increases the chance of fertilization considerably.
IUI can be timed with a woman’s natural ovulatory cycle, ovulation is usually induced through medication when the natural ovulatory pattern is an Issue.
A semen sample is procured from the male partner, it is recommended that they refrain from ejaculation for 2-3 days prior to the procedure. This improves the quality of sperm that is collected and increases the chances of conception. This is of course not applicable to cases of donor insemination
After we have collected the semen, processes the semen in a laboratory. This routine involves separating the sperm from other components of the seminal fluid to augment its composition and density.
IUI is usually performed on the day of ovulation after the vagina is lightly cleansed
The final step in the series of procedures leading up to IUI is the insemination itself. Here, a processed sample containing only superior quality sperm is inserted into the uterine cavity through catheter.

What Are the Risks?

Here are some of the risks involved with IUI: mild and rare:

Spotting

Inserting a catheter in the uterus can sometimes lead to mild vaginal spotting, which doesn’t really have any adverse effect on the pregnancy.

Multiple Pregnancy

IUI is not commonly linked to multiple pregnancies, but the chances can increase due to the use of ovulation-inducing medication.

Infection

There’s a minor chance of the cervical infection.

Other Symptoms

OI+ IUI could also potentially lead to hot flashes, mood swings, headaches and nausea. However, these symptoms are almost always mild, receding soon after a course of medication is withdrawn. If performed inadequately, IUI could herald serious complications, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and ovarian cysts. We personalise every IUI procedure in keeping with a guest’s medical record. We assess every minute medical detail before prescribing even a simple treatment