There is purpose in the season of waiting for your little bundle of joy. The strongest women become the strongest mothers before their children are even conceived.
IUI which is also known as Intrauterine Insemination is a simpler, safe, effective and less invasive fertility treatment where sperm is placed directly into the women`s uterus due to various factors leading to unexplained infertility.
After preliminary fertility testing your doctor will advise you if this is the best method for you.
How does IUI work?
The IUI procedure is done during a woman’s natural cycle or after administration of medication to induce ovulation.
Who are the best candidates for IUI treatment?
This method may be the first step in your fertility treatment journey if:
- You have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility
- You are under 35 and unable to conceive after having unprotected intercourse for more than one year
- Your partner has mild male pattern infertility (low sperm count, erectile dysfunction, poor sperm motility)
- Scarring of cervix leading to poor sperm penetration into the uterine cavity
- If you have not got pregnant with ovulation induction alone
- Cannot have regular sexual intercourse due to certain condition like vaginismus
- If you need to use donor sperm
The aim of IUI treatment is to increase the number of sperm which enters the uterine cavity. The chances of fertilisation increases when there is more sperm reached the fallopian tubes.
Basically, in simple words, this technique provides sperm with a head start by placing it closer to the egg.
Advantages of IUI
- It is less invasive
- A cheaper option when compared to IVF
- Less stress on the body
- The duration of procedure is much shorter (takes 10-15minutes)
- The chances of getting pregnant with IUI is higher compared to regular sexual intercourse
- The procedure is almost painless and does not require anaesthesia for most patients
What’s the success rate of IUI?
Most medical journals state the overall success rate for IUI to be between 14-20% depending on the cause of infertility.
Age of the women and sperm quality plays a vital role in the success rate.
How long does it take for patients to know they have been successful?
Usually implantation takes about 5-10days after the procedure. A positive pregnancy test after a missed period indicates a successful IUI.
