Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a simple conception technique in fertility centers. Semen sample is processed in this technique before deposition in the upper uterine cavity. As a result, one can overcome natural barriers to sperm travel in the female. First, it is a non invasive procedure, you don’t have to undergo any surgery. This is the first-line therapy if you have functionally normal tubes. Your doctor will advise IUI if your infertility is due to a cervical factor. In case you are not ovulating regularly, ovulation induction with IUI success tips will give you good result. Anovulation frequently occurs if you have PCOS.
How can I increase my chances of successful IUI?
Your efforts for successful IUI should start much before the procedure. You can plan 2-3 months prior to ovulation induction. Start regular workouts and a healthy diet plan. Deficiency of vitamins may harm cause fertility issues. Encourage your partner to reduce smoking and stay away from alcohol. These IUI success tips may help achieve pregnancy for infertility.
| Food to eat after IUI | Healthy diet – avoid oily and spicy food, include protein, vegetables, fruits and nuts, drink more water |
| Bed rest | Since IUI pregnancy is similar to natural pregnancy bed rest is not essential. |
| Sleep after IUI | You must get enough sleep and stay away from stressful environment. |
| Long distance travel | Avoid long travel after IUI, but continue doing your routine activities. |
| Medications after IUI | Your doctor will advise for some medications which help you for implantation and support pregnancy. |
| Avoid UTI | Drink lot of water and pass urine frequently. |
| Having Sex after IUI | You can continue to follow natural course of relationship. |
How IUI helps women with infertility?
In Intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure your doctor places washed sperm directly into the uterus. Natural conception, needs sperms to travel from the vagina through the cervix, into the uterus, and through fallopian tubes. In IUI, sperm are “washed” and concentrated, and also placed directly into the uterus, which puts them closer to the egg in the fallopian tube. IUI process can increase the pregnancy in certain couples who have had difficulty getting pregnant.
Who does IUI help?
IUI is a relatively noninvasive and less-expensive fertility treatment compared to more invasive and costly treatments such as IVF. In some cases, couples may begin with IUI before progressing to IVF treatment if needed.
IUI can be performed using a male partner’s sperm or donor sperm with women’s egg. IUI treatment is most commonly used in these scenarios:
- Unexplained infertility
- Mild endometriosis
- For Issues with the cervix or cervical mucus
- Low sperm count for male partner
- For decreased sperm motility
- For issues with ejaculation
- Single woman wishing to conceive
What to expect when you have the procedure?
IUI success is a relatively painless and noninvasive procedure. IUI in a natural cycle, requires no medications. A woman ovulates naturally and has the sperm placed at a doctor’s hospital around the time of ovulation.
IUI success can also be combined with ovarian stimulation. Medications may be used to prompt the ovaries to mature and release an egg or multiple eggs. Ovulation with more than one or many egg usually increases chance of pregnancy.
Each medical facility and doctor will have their own specific instructions and IUI success tips for the procedure. After first consultation, your physician have determined that IUI success is the best, and may include the following:
- You may have several hospital visits while on your period for blood test, ultrasounds, and medication instructions.
- Medications : start taking them while on period.
- About a week after starting the medication, you’ll have another ultrasound and possibly blood test.
- Depending on your test results, the doctor will determine when you’re ovulating, and you and your partner will return to the hospital. This is typically 10 to 16 days after starting the medications called ovulation.
- Male partner will provide a semen sample on that day of the procedure, or the donor sperm will be thawed.
- The sperm is immediately taken to a lab and andrologist prepares the sample. IUI process washes seminal fluid and removes debris. By this the sperm count becomes concentrated and doesn”t irritate to the uterus.
IUI Procedure Tips
IUI is quick, typically painless and does not require anesthesia.
- You’ll lie on an exam table and your doctor will use a speculum to gently open the vagina and visualize cervix.
- Your doctor places the washed sperm through the cervix and into the uterus using a long, very thin tube.
- Rest on the exam table for 10 to 30 minutes following the insemination may be helpful.
- Most women experience little discomfort, although some women may experience mild uterine cramping or vaginal bleeding following the IUI success procedure.
- Some practices also prescribe progesterone to take after the procedure and through the early stages of pregnancy if pregnancy is achieved.
- You can take a pregnancy test two weeks or 18 day of procedure after the IUI procedure.
What are the risks of IUI treatment?
There is a small risk of infection following the IUI success procedure. Your doctor will use sterile instruments, so infection is very rare or not possible. If you’re currently taking fertility medications for IUI procedure and experience any of the following symptoms, you should call doctor immediately.
- Feels of dizziness or lightheadedness
- Sudden weight gain of more than 5 kgs
- Feels of shortness of breath
- Any nausea and vomiting
- Severe abdominal pain or pelvic pain
- Sudden increase of abdominal size
What’s the IUI success rate like?
Every couple will have a different response to IUI success, and it can be difficult to predict its success. A number of factors affect the outcome, includes:
- The age
- Underlying infertility diagnosis or problems
- Whether fertility drugs are used continues
- Some other underlying fertility concerns
Your chances of IUI success can vary. It depends on your reasons for needing fertility treatment. Success rates for IUI is less if you are above age of 40. Women who have not gotten pregnant after three cycles of IUI may go for IVF. You should discuss your predicted success rate with your fertility specialist doctor to see if this a good option for you.
Fast Facts about IUI Success Rates
Across all patient types, IUI success cycles have live birth rates per cycle of between 5 – 15%. But reported success rates vary quite a little bit from study to study. Some studies show just an 10% success rate (using fertility drugs and IUI), while other some more studies find success rates over 20%. IUI Success depends on a lot of factors, including if fertility drugs were used, which ones were used, and the age of the woman. More on all of these variables later by later.
Repetition also plays a role in overall success using IUI procedure. The more IUI cycles you undergo, the higher chance for pregnancy. That said, multiple studies show that a VAST MAJORITY (90-95%) of successful IUIs will happen within 3 or 4 attempts.
Because IUI acts only as an assistant to natural conception there are many diagnoses that are contraindicated to pursuing IUI success. If one attempted IUI regardless, their success rates would be near zero may be success also come.
