Everything You Need to Know about Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

If you’re having trouble conceiving, you’re not alone! Thousands of people all over the world struggle with infertility. Luckily there are plenty of options that can help you conceive. One of these amazing options is intrauterine insemination, otherwise known as IUI. IUI is a minimally invasive procedure that can boost your chances of conception. If you are interested in learning more about IUI and how it can help you build your family, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about intrauterine insemination (IUI). Let’s get started!

What is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is a common form of artificial insemination. The process involves washing and concentrating sperm so that only the best swimmers remain. After the sperm is prepared, a fertility specialist will proceed by placing them directly inside a woman’s uterus to increase her chances of conceiving a child. It is perfectly timed with the woman’s natural cycle so that the sperm is introduced to the egg when the woman is ovulating. This increases your chances of producing a fertilized egg because the procedure helps the sperm get close to the egg after it is released from the woman’s ovaries. IUI is a popular fertility treatment that is recommended for couples who are having trouble with conception.

What is the Difference Between IUI and IVF?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are two very different processes. During an IUI procedure, the egg will become fertilized inside your fallopian tube. In an IVF procedure, on the other hand, the sperm fertilizes the egg outside of your body before the embryo is placed inside your uterus. Although both are methods for becoming pregnant, IUI is significantly less expensive and less invasive than IVF. However, IVF has a higher success rate because it requires more steps and outside intervention from experts.

Why Do People Do IUI?

There are plenty of reasons why people opt for IUI treatment to help them become pregnant. Some of the most common are lesbian women looking to conceive, women who want to conceive a child on their own, and couples who struggle with fertility issues.

In most cases, your doctor will recommend IUI when you are dealing with one or more of the following:

• Low sperm count
• Thick cervical mucus
• Using donor sperm
• Semen allergy
• Ejaculation dysfunction
• Infertility issues

How Does IUI Work?

When a woman conceives naturally, the sperm will travel from the vagina, through the cervix, into the uterus, and to the fallopian tube. When the sperm and the egg meet in the fallopian tube, the egg will become fertilized and proceed to attach itself to the uterine wall. This is a long and treacherous journey for sperm to make. In fact, only 5% of the sperm actually survive the journey and make it to the egg.

IUI cuts this journey into a fraction of what it would be naturally. Using a thin tube that is inserted into the uterus, the sperm will be transported closer to the fallopian tubes. This significantly increases your chances of becoming pregnant because the sperm will not have as far to travel. Typically, health care providers will recommend IUI as one of the first methods of treatment because it is less invasive and less expensive than other methods of fertility treatment.

How Can You Prepare for IUI?

There is a lot of preparation that goes into a successful round of intrauterine insemination. Before you begin the process of IUI, both your partner and you will undergo an examination of your reproductive health. This examination can include bloodwork, sperm analysis, ultrasounds, or other diagnostic tests. After your doctor is able to access your results, they will be able to tell you more about how you can best prepare for your IUI procedure. Many people will be prescribed oral or injectable fertility medication for a few days preceding their procedure, but not everyone.

There are also some OTC ways to boost the chance of having a successful procedure. Taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid and B-12 can help to prepare your body for a successful insemination process. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor to see what steps they recommend taking before your procedure.

After you work with your doctor or fertility specialist to cultivate a plan of action, you will set a date for your procedure and discuss what you can do to prepare yourself. One of the most important aspects of a successful IUI procedure is timing. For that reason, you will need to keep a close eye on your body to determine when you are ovulating. Ovulation can also be synthetically induced by your doctor through medications or injections.

On the day of your procedure, either a sperm donor or your partner will provide a semen sample that will be carefully prepared before it is inserted into your uterus. The preparation process for the semen involves separating the highly active sperm from the lower quality sperm. This will ensure that a concentration of high-quality sperm is inserted into the uterus during the insemination process.

How Long Does IUI Take to Get Pregnant?

IUI procedures typically operate on a 28-day cycle. The timeline will be determined according to your menstrual cycle. This enhances your chance of having successful insemination. The IUI procedure itself is a very quick process. In fact, it only takes minutes to insert the sperm into the uterus. After the sperm is in place, your doctor might ask you to lay still for about 15 minutes. It’s as easy as that! After the insemination, you will be encouraged to wait two weeks before taking a pregnancy test to see if the procedure was successful.

If you do not conceive the first time around, there is no need to worry! From there you will work with your doctor to make some tweaks to your plan of action. This might involve taking some fertility medication or completing more tests and ultrasounds to check up on the progress of the fertility medication you are already taking. If your IUI procedure is unsuccessful after 2 or 3 rounds, your doctor may recommend that you try to conceive by another method such as IVF.

How Successful is IUI?

Although IUI is a great option for plenty of women looking to conceive, the success of the procedure can vary depending on any underlying fertility issues. For people who have unexplained infertility, cervical mucus issues, or problems with ejaculation, IUI is typically very successful. However, if you are having trouble conceiving due to fallopian tube disorders, endometriosis, or sperm impairment, IUI may not be the best treatment option for you. The best way to determine your treatment options is to discuss them with your doctor or fertility specialist.

Risks Associated with IUI

Although IUI is not a risky or invasive procedure, there are still some risks that you will want to consider before you determine if it is right for you. For instance, if you use IUI in combination with fertility medication, there will be a higher chance of becoming pregnant with multiples. Pregnancies with multiple babies are more prone to premature labor and low birth weight. In rare cases, you may experience a minor infection after the procedure. However, this can easily be treated and does not usually impact the success of the procedure. You may also experience some light spotting after the procedure. If you do experience a small amount of vaginal bleeding, there is no need to panic. In most cases, this will subside within a day or two. If you experience any concerning symptoms after your procedure, it is a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider.