Artificial Insemination - Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

What is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) also known as alternative insemination or artificial insemination, compromise of placing sperm in a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. IUI's primary purpose is to increase the number of sperm that can reach the fallopian tubes and consequently improve the possibility of fertilization.

IUI provides sperm support by delivering it a head start, but it still requires a sperm to arrive and fertilize the egg on its own. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a less invasive & less expensive option as compared to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

When is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) used?

IUI is usually used when the fertility problem is caused by low sperm count or reduced sperm mobility. However, this is not the only reason to opt for IUI; many other conditions can also contribute to the selection of IUI fertility treatment -

• Infertility that goes unexplained
• When the cervical conditions are hostile, which may include cervical mucus problem
• Having cervical scare due to previous procedures, hindering the ability of sperms' to enter the uterus
• Ejaculation dysfunction

Fertility specialist doesn’t recommend IUI procedure to following patients:

• Women suffering from severe fallopian tube disease
• Women with a history of pelvic infections
• Women suffering from endometriosis

What is the procedure of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?

IUI procedure requires only a few minutes & includes taking medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs.

To help you understand what to expect during the IUI procedure, the entire process is mentioned step by step -

Stimulate Egg Growth : oral or injectable medications are prescribed to women, to stimulate egg growth and maturation. Oral medications are usually taken for five days, while the injection is taken 8-12 days, depending on how the ovaries respond.

Monitoring : while on injectable medication, ultrasound and blood monitoring are done every 2-3 days to monitor the development of egg and ovaries. A blood test is done to analyze hormone levels that are related to ovarian function & egg growth.

Ovulation Induced : Once a mature egg is present, a trigger shot is given to the patient, which causes ovulation within 36 hours.

Sprem Sample Processed : sperm sample that is going to be used in the process is washed to get rid of debris, substances & immobile sperms.

Insemination Procedure : insemination feels like the routine pelvic exam, in which a woman lies on an exam table. A thin and flexible catheter is used to inject the sperm sample into the uterus. This process is painless and takes a few seconds to minute. Sometimes, insemination may be recommended two days in a row.

Follow-Up : is done to be sure about the success of the IUI procedure & that pregnancy is progressing safely.

Utsav fertility center is one of the leading fertility centers in Panvel, Navi Mumbai, under the leadership of Dr. Krutika Makhija - a certified Fertility Specialist with more than 7 years of experience. Our multi-disciplinary team comprises highly qualified and experienced specialists who strive to provide all our patients with quality standards of treatment and care.