Understanding IUI
IUI is a procedure where sperm is placed directly into a woman's uterus during ovulation. This helps the sperm get closer to the egg, increasing the chances of fertilisation.
IUI is often used when there are mild issues with sperm quality, short-time unexplained infertility, irregular periods or other factors that make it harder for sperm to reach the egg naturally.
How IUI Works
During IUI, sperm is collected and specially prepared in a lab. The sperm is then placed into the woman's uterus using a thin, flexible tube. This procedure is timed to coincide with ovulation, the time when an egg is released from the ovary, to give the sperm the best chance of fertilising the egg.
- First we recommend to assess your fallopian tubes through a test called HyFoSy (Hysterosalpingo-foam sonography) or HSG (hysterosalpingography) and make sure your partner’s sperm is suitable for this treatment (Semen analysis).
- Ovarian stimulation: In this phase you will be receiving certain drugs to stimulate the growth of one to three follicles with their egg. This phase will usually last 10-14 days
- Trigger of ovulation: this phase will finish the maturation process of the egg and will trigger it’s liberation from the follicle for fertilisation (this is taken 12-36 hours before insemination).
- Insemination: this is a very straightforward procedure that lasts less than 20 minutes. During this time a very thin catheter is used to insert and deliver the sperm sample inside the uterus.
- Pregnancy test: Two weeks after the insemination you will do a pregnancy test. If it is negative you would be able to try a second or third attempt or have a consultation with your treating consultant to reassess your case.
Who Can Benefit from IUI?
IUI can be helpful for couples with various fertility issues, including:
Short time unexplained infertility:
If you and your partner have been trying to conceive for one or two years without success, and no clear cause of infertility has been identified, IUI may be considered as an initial treatment option.
Male factor infertility:
If your partner has a low sperm count, decreased sperm motility, or other mild sperm abnormalities, IUI can be used to bypass some of the natural barriers to sperm reaching the egg, improving the chances of fertilisation. To ensure the IUI is a suitable option for you, the sperm will be assessed before treatment and needs to meet certain criteria.
Donor sperm:
IUI is commonly used for couples or individuals who require donor sperm to conceive. In such cases, frozen donor sperm is used for insemination.
Anaovulation / Irregular cycles:
For patients where ovulation induction did not work, the IUI could be a suitable option before moving to IVF.
1
Consultation
You will meet one of our doctors who will describe in detail the IUI procedure, what to expect throughout the process, success rates for your own particular case and the expected outcome.
2
Diagnostics
During your consultation your Doctor may suggest some additional diagnostic tests for you. After your consultation you will be contacted by a member of our team who can schedule these tests for you and answer any questions you may have.
3
Nurse consultation
Before treatment starts you will meet with one of our nurses who will explain all stages of IUI treatment to you. They will also show you how to use your prescribed medication. These medications will: • Stimulate follicular growth • Control and induce ovulation. • Build up the lining of the womb to receive the embryo. • Maintain the lining of the womb to support a successfully implanted embryo
4
Follicle tracking
Using ultrasound scans, starting after day 7 of your cycle will track follicle growth and help us determine when to perform the IUI. When a dominant follicle is visible at 15mm-24mm, medication will be administered to trigger rupture of the follicle(s) and release the egg(s).
5
The IUI procedure
In conjunction with the stimulated and controlled ovulation using fertility drugs, prepared sperm are inserted directly through the vagina and cervix into the uterus, using a thin plastic tube called a catheter. This improves the chances of sperm reaching and fertilising an egg in the fallopian tube, by-passing barriers such as hostile cervical mucus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Most women experience little to no pain during IUI. Some may feel mild cramping similar to menstrual cramps, but the procedure is generally well-tolerated by most of our patients.
The IUI procedure itself takes only a few minutes. However, you should expect to spend about 30 minutes to an hour at the clinic for preparation and recovery.
Overall success rates range from 15-20% per cycle, factors which influence success are female age, sperm quality and quantity, and the number of mature follicles present. From ReproMed’s most recent audit of IUI treatment cycles our success rate for IUI is: 18.7% with a multiple birth rate of 1%.
This is a very individual question and will be discussed between you and your doctor.
Yes, by stimulating the ovaries, but mainly by delivering the sperm sample inside the uterus, we improve the likelihood of sperm and egg meeting in the natural environment of the fallopian tubes.
Ideally, an IUI cycle should be performed between 12 and 36 hours after your trigger medication.
Start your journey today today
Taking the first step to make an appointment can be challenging, which is why we try to make it as simple and stress-free for you as we possibly can.
