WHAT IS IUI
During intrauterine insemination (IUI), sperm are washed in a special media that promotes their health and facilitates the separation of the fast-moving sperm from the sluggish or non-moving sperm. The rapidly moving sperm are concentrated into a small volume and are placed directly into the uterus when a woman is most fertile, immediately prior to and during ovulation.
Since prepared sperm are placed directly into the uterus , helpful in women with poor cervical mucus or those who have antisperm antibodies. Poor cervical mucus can prevent the sperm from swimming from the vagina to the uterus and antisperm antibodies can “kill” or incapacitate sperm.
PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM IUI INCLUDE:
- Couples with unexplained infertility
- Couples with male factor, mild to moderate decreased semen quality
- Women with ovulatory disorders who responds well to ovulation induction
- Women with mild endometriosis
- Women using donor sperm
- Couples who have infrequent intercourse
THE IUI PROCESS
During IUI :
- Fertility drugs are used to stimulate the ovulation of more than one oocyte.
- Ovulation monitoring is done with a combination of at-home (home ovulation predictor kits) and clinic (ultrasound, blood tests) techniques.
- A hormone injection to time ovulation.
The male partner has to provide a semen sample on the day of insemination. The semen sample is prepared and then inserted through the cervix and into the uterus by a thin plastic catheter. The procedure takes place in the clinic and is relatively painless.
Conceive IVF’s fertility specialists will guide patients who may benefit by IUI When discussing the possibility with you, we will comprehensively review IUI success rates, donor IUI, and how IUI is performed.
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B. IUI VS IVF – Comparing the Processes
Two of the most commonly used fertility treatments methods are intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Even though these procedures have been used successfully for many decades, people often confuse between the two. While both fertility treatments are used to achieve the same goal (a pregnancy), the processes are quite different.
WHAT IS IUI?
IUI, also known “artificial insemination,” is a procedure that involves placing sperm directly into the uterus. The process helps a higher concentration of healthy sperm closer to the egg increasing the chance of conception.
The IUI process is often done in conjunction with ovulation induction, as Clomid, to stimulate and grow multiple eggs, your fertility doctor will monitor you closely with blood tests and ultrasounds and will schedule the insemination to coincide with ovulation.
Your partner will provide a sperm sample (or donor sample can be used), which is specially washed and prepared.. The prepared concentrated and more motile sperm are placed into a thin catheter, which is then inserted into the vagina and injected into the uterus. It is a quick and relatively painless procedure.
WHAT IS IVF?
Similar to IUI, the IVF process starts off with taking fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce more number of eggs and is monitored by your doctor through blood test and ultrasounds.
When your eggs are mature, your eggs will be retrieved by inserting a very fine needle through the vagina into the ovary under ultrasound guidance. The entire process is performed under general anesthesia, so there no pain.
The retrieved eggs are fertilized with the washed and prepared sperm. In case of severe male factor infertility, a single sperm is injected into each egg through a procedure called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).
The embryos are then grown to the blastocyst stage (day 5 or 6). The healthy embryo(s) can by either be transferred into the uterus or frozen, or cryopreserved, until you are ready.
WHICH FERTILITY TREATMENT
IS RIGHT FOR ME?
IUI is a less expensive, less invasive and is often the first line of treatment for couples with mild male factor infertility, unexplained infertility, and for women under the age of 40.
In women that have failed IUI cycles, advanced endometriosis or blocked fallopian tubes, IVF is typically the best treatment option with the highest chance of success.
Your course of treatment at Conceive IVF is highly individualized based on your specific needs. Both IUI and IVF have helped millions of families across the globe to achieve a successful pregnancy.
If you’d like to meet with a fertility specialist to discuss your fertility treatment options, please contact us today.
