iui procedure Archives - Eva Hospital

IUI or Intrauterine Insemination: Treatment and Procedure

June 15, 2022March 28, 2024
by Eva Hospital

What is IUI?

Intrauterine Insemination or IUI is one of the many types of artificial insemination, used as an infertility treatment. During an IUI procedure, high-quality sperm that have been collected, washed, and concentrated are placed directly inside a woman’s uterus during her ovulation. The planting of sperm is done with the help of a small catheter.

How does IUI treatment work?

IUI treatment is meant to improve a woman’s chances of getting pregnant by providing healthy sperms easier access to the fallopian tube, at a time when the woman is most fertile.

As opposed to a natural conception, IUI treatment cuts down the time and distance a healthy sperm has to cover to reach the woman’s fallopian tubes. In the natural course of action, the sperm has to travel through a woman’s vagina, then cervix, then uterus and then to the fallopian tubes, where it meets the eggs released from a woman’s ovary and fertilization takes place.

IUI treatment: When is it needed?

Comparatively much less invasive and a lot more affordable, IUI treatment is used as the first choice by a specialist when treating infertility. IUI treatment can be recommended by a specialist for couples who have not been able to achieve pregnancy because of the following reasons:

Male factor infertility & sperm impairments: IUI is used to help a woman get pregnant who has failed to conceive because of an issue with her male partner’s sperm. These issues may include below-average sperm concentration, weak sperm motility or abnormalities in sperm size and shape.

IUI treatment is also applied in cases where the male partner has ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.

Donor sperm: IUI procedure is used for women who need to use donor sperm to get pregnant.

Cervical factor infertility: A woman’s cervix, seated between her vagina and uterus, produces mucus during ovulation which makes it convenient for sperm to travel from the vagina to the fallopian tubes. Thickness in cervical mucus may hamper the easy movement of the sperm. An IUI treatment is ideal in such cases since the sperm is directly planted into the uterus.

Endometriosis-related infertility: Among women suffering from endometriosis —- a disorder that obstructs the fallopian tube and keeps the egg and sperm from the meeting —IUI treatment is used, along with other medication, to achieve pregnancy.

Problems with ovulation: IUI treatment is also known to be effective for women suffering from ovulatory factor infertility.

Semen allergy: While such instances are a rarity, some women are allergic to the proteins present in the sperm. The condition can cause redness, swelling, and a burning sensation in the vagina. IUI treatment is suitable in such cases since the allergy-causing proteins are washed away during the procedure.

Unexplained infertility: IUI is known to work best for couples with unexplained infertility.

IUI Procedure

Step 1: Since the sperm has to be planted in your uterus when the woman is ovulating, your doctor would ascertain your ovulation window. Typically, ovulation occurs 10 to 16 days after the first day of your period. IUI procedure is typically done a day or two after detecting ovulation.

Step 2: Keeping in view of your ovulation window, the semen sample is provided. In the case of donor sperm, frozen sperm is thawed and prepared.

Step 3: Through a sperm washing procedure, a concentrated amount of healthy sperm is separated from poor-quality sperm and other elements present in the semen.

Step 4: Intrauterine insemination is done by a specialist. The procedure will last between 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 5: Minutes after the procedure, you are free to get back to your regular routine.

Step 6: A home pregnancy test can be done two weeks after the IUI procedure to ascertain pregnancy.

Step 7: Two weeks after the home test, a blood test is carried out by your doctor to be entirely certain of the test result.

IUI: Risks

Infection
Spotting
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Multiple births
Cramping

FAQs

Is IUI treatment painful?

One of the least invasive forms of artificial insemination, IUI procedure is known to cause only a slight pinching sensation and some cramping when the catheter is passed through the cervix. Some women may also experience spotting after the procedure.

Is IUI successful on the first try?

An IUI treatment may or may not be successful in the first attempt.

Who needs IUI treatment?

IUI is recommended for couples with the following medical conditions/ requirements:

Male factor infertility
Ejaculation dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Endometriosis-related infertility
Cervical factor infertility
Ovulatory factor infertility
Semen allergy
Donor sperm

Eva Hospital

IUI vs IVF: Know What is Right for You

January 22, 2021
by Eva Hospital

IUI and IVF are two infertility treatment options for couples who have trouble conceiving. The main difference between the two being that fertilization happens inside the female’s body in IUI, while it occurs outside the body in IVF. Since every case of infertility is unique to each couple, the option considered entirely depends on the type of abnormality.

We will discuss the scenarios where IUI is considered, and those where IVF is preferred.

What is IUI & IVF? Basic differences.

IUI stands for Intrauterine Insemination and IVF stands for In-vitro Fertilization. Both are Assisted Reproductive Techniques ( ART), that aid in conception or pregnancy.

IUI is an alternative way of putting the sperm directly into the uterus, using aids and instruments.

During the IVF ART, reproductive cells are retrieved from the female and male, combined in a glass dish for fertilization, and the resulting embryo(s) implanted in the uterus.

IUI is less invasive and kinda more natural. IVF is a little invasive, but more advanced and includes the use of donor eggs.

InVitro process includes several steps, such as ovary stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. On the other hand, intrauterine insemination only involves injecting sperm inside the uterus during ovulation to facilitate sperm’s entry into the egg.

Reasons for choosing IUI vs IVF

According to Dr. Shivani Bhutani, Infertility Specialist at Eva Hospital, in some cases IUI is tried before going ahead with IVF. With an evaluation of the reproductive health of the couple, the right ART is suggested via discussions.

Reasons for choosing IUI

Intrauterine insemination is mainly used when you fail to conceive with normal intercourse or hormonal supplements. It could be due to the following reasons:

Poor sperm motility – In some cases, the sperm cells contained in the semen do not have good mobility. So, they fail to reach the eggs and fertilize them. Sperm motility can be easily tested by providing a semen sample of the male partner.
Physical issues in consummating sex – Some women suffer from vaginismus, an abnormality where the vaginal muscles contract involuntarily while having sex. Intercourse becomes painful and infrequent for both partners.
Endometriosis– It is a condition in women where the uterine tissue starts growing outside of it. Abnormal tissue growth in fallopian tubes or ovaries stops semen from meeting the oocytes. Mild cases of endometriosis are fairly resolved via IUI.
Hostile environment- Though uncommon, sometimes the vaginal fluid contains sperm antibodies that kill the sperm in the semen. IUI solves this problem by injecting the sperm directly into the uterus, bypassing the hostility of the cervix.
Irregular Ovulation – Irregular or absent ovulation often caused by a deficiency in one of the sexual hormones makes natural conception difficult.
Low sperm count – If the sperm count is only a little low, IUI helps by screening the semen and inseminating artificially.
Ejaculation problem – Anatomical or psychological problems with erection, penis, or retrograde(reverse) ejaculation also find a solution in intrauterine insemination.
Unexplained infertility- All tests are normal, you have been trying, but there is no natural conception. We call it unexplained infertility. IUI can remedy it.

Reasons for choosing IVF

In- Vitro-Fertilization is a choice for couples for many varied reasons. Any of the following could be right for you.

Low sperm count or motility- When the male has a low quantity of sperm in the semen, IVF facilitates fertilization with a high concentration of sperm from you or a donor.
Ovulation problems – Faulty ovulation due to conditions like PCOS may not be solved with IUI alone.
Fallopian tube problems – A damage or blockage in the fallopian tubes doesn’t provide enough access for intrauterine insemination.
Timing your baby – IVF provides more control over the timing of the baby. You can freeze and store sperm as well as eggs. Also, for immediate pregnancy, there is no wait and watch interval.
Acute Endometriosis – In acute cases of endometriosis, the sperm is unable to fertilize the eggs inside the body. In vitro technique is preferred in this condition.
Using donor eggs – Whenever donor eggs from another woman are utilized, the embryos are developed in the lab and transferred to the mother to carry the pregnancy forward.
Surrogacy – Due to age, fibroids, or other factors, a female partner is unable to go through a successful pregnancy. So, you provide the gametes, they are fertilized in-vitro and implanted in a healthy woman’s uterus to carry the child to full term.
Genetic Disorder Screening – If you are afraid that one of you may pass on a genetic disease to the child, IVF helps you out. After fertilization, the resulting embryos undergo genetic screening. Only healthy embryos are chosen for implantation.

Don’t give up hope

Never lose hope! Visit an infertility clinic and evaluate your candidacy for the procedure that is best for your, your partner’s, and your future baby’s health. Your miracle baby is waiting for you.

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