Author: Dr. Priyanka Mohan
Qualification : MBBS, MS(OBG), FMAS, DMAS, FRM
IUI Treatment: (A Simple Guide To Intrauterine Insemination / Everything You Need To Know About Intrauterine Insemination)
IUI treatment, also known as Intrauterine Insemination, is a clinical method used to help couples who are battling fertility issues. Typically, The IUI procedure can be undertaken by couples who have failed to conceive a child, despite trying for over a year.
That’s the technical jargon out of the way. What you’re looking for are answers. What exactly is Intrauterine Insemination? Is it ideal for me/us? Is the IUI process safe? Is IUI pregnancy any different from regular pregnancy? Finally, what is the step-by-step process of IUI treatment?
Let’s tackle these questions one by one, shall we
What is Intrauterine Insemination?
Before we proceed any further, let us revisit some high school biology. Fertilization is the process where the male sperm and the female egg fuse with each other to form an embryo. This fusion occurs in the fallopian tube.
Now, for whatever reason, if the sperm cells are unable to reach the egg, or there is a tubal block or the environment in and around the uterus are unfit for the survival of sperm cells, well, that’s infertility in a nutshell.
IUI bypasses this system by placing sperm cells directly within the uterus, therefore increasing the chances of fertilization exponentially, provided your fallopian tubes are patent.
IUI procedure involves the collection of sperm cells from your partner. These will be washed and analyzed to ensure only the healthiest of sperm cells are used for the treatment.
This highly concentrated sample of healthy sperm cells is then introduced into the woman’s uterus through an IUI catheter.
Should I undergo IUI treatment?
IUI effectively counters many factors that could be causing infertility. Mild to moderate male factor, unexplained infertility, and sexual dysfunction, couples benefit from this procedure.
The process is short and painless. At most, you will experience mild discomfort when the catheter enters your cervix, but this discomfort is short-lived and you should feel absolutely fine after the procedure.
How is Intrauterine Insemination performed?
The first thing to determine before you start the IUI procedure is to ensure that this treatment is the right step forward for you. This can be done by performing a set of simple tests. These will include semen analysis, hormone tests, blood analysis to ensure your general well being, and a hysterosalpingogram or HSG (a test taken to ensure your fallopian tubes are open)
Once these tests have been completed, the treatment itself is pretty straightforward.
- Fertility Stimulation – On day 2 of cycle, ovulation inducing medication that will stimulate the growth of follicles will be started. This is to time your ovulation, thereby increasing your chances of conception.
- Sperm Collection – A sperm sample will be collected from your partner an hour prior to the procedure
- ‘Washing and Screening’ – This sample will then be analyzed to ensure only the healthiest sperm cells are inseminated into your uterus during the procedure. During the washing phase, the sperm cells are separated from seminal fluid. This step is known to increase the chances of fertilization.
- Insemination – During this final stage of the process, a trained expert will inject the highly concentrated sperm sample directly into your uterus through a catheter. This way, the sperm has a much higher chance of fertilizing the egg as it is placed directly into the uterine cavity.
After the procedure is completed, you should be able to know whether it was successful in 2 – 3 weeks.
How successful is IUI Treatment?
Many factors determine the success of Intrauterine Insemination. Typically, there is a 15-20% chance of successful conception after your first IUI cycle. This number shouldn’t dishearten you as up to 88% of successful IUI pregnancies occurred after the third IUI cycle.
Is IUI Pregnancy different from Normal Pregnancy?
Absolutely Not! Pregnancy is pregnancy whether spontaneous or through IUI. A completely natural and healthy pregnancy can be expected after successful IUI treatment.
Is IUI safe?
The chances of experiencing complexities during and post-IUI treatment are exceptionally low. In very rare cases, some women have experienced mild infections after the treatment. But as mentioned, these are typically very rare.
Why Intrauterine Insemination?
IUI procedure is a safe, quick, and relatively easy way of achieving pregnancy in couples who are otherwise struggling to conceive. The treatment provides millions of women and couples around the world with renewed hopes of starting a family.
In conclusion, Intrauterine Insemination is a viable option for you if you are battling fertility issues. With its ease of access, this option is available for single women, couples, and many others who are unable to start a family on their own. Visit one of our Motherhood Fertility & IVF Centers and consult our fertility experts and know more about IUI treatment cost, pelvic scan cost, etc. Motherhood IVF is one of India’s leading fertility hospitals and specializes in a range of fertility treatments.
happiness with India’s
Trusted Fertility Chain
Need help? Talk to our fertility experts.
Had an IVF Failure? Take a Second Opinion.