What is IUI Treatment
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a formal fertility treatment where the sperm, from husband or a sperm donor is placed inside the woman’s womb. This is to encourage fertilisation, and the aim is to increase the number of sperm reaching the egg, by passing the vagina and the cervix. This may increase the chance of fertilisation by having more sperm directly entering the tubes.
IUI involves a laboratory procedure to separate fast-moving sperm from more sluggish or non-moving sperm. Sperm produced by masturbation are separated in the laboratory and are then placed into the woman’s uterus close to the time of ovulation when the egg is released from the ovary.
This treatment may be offered to improve the chance of conception if sperm quality is slightly low. It is not appropriate for cases when sperm quality is very poor. The procedure is also not recommended when the fallopian tubes are damaged.
What are the indications for IUI?
One of the indications of IUI, intrauterine insemination, is that it is a less invasive form of treatment, and often the first line of treatment in a group of patients who are either coming for
1. Work stress not allowing frequent sex
2. Husband with erectile dysfunction
3. Inadequate sexual relations
4. Women with vaginismus
5. Polycystic ovarian syndrome
6. Single women or women in desiring to be mother may benefit with this form of treatment.
7. Acute midcycle male sexual dysfunction
If there are minor problems with the quality of sperm, the chance of pregnancy declines, and thus the IUI treatment may help to improve pregnancy rates in those cases.
How does IUI work?
We always recommend that you use fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation, vaginal ultrasound scans will be used to track the development of your eggs. As soon as an egg is mature, you will be given a hormone injection (Ovitrelle/ Pregnyl) to stimulate its release. We prefer at least 2 eggs development to increase chance of pregnancy.
The sperm will be inseminated 24 to 36 hours after your ovulation. A small catheter (a soft, flexible tube) is then threaded into your womb via your cervix. A prepared sperm sample, containing the best quality sperm, is inserted through the catheter. The whole process takes just a few minutes and is usually painless. Following the procedure, we may recommend that you rest for 15-20 minutes before going home. The entire procedure is witnessed by doctor to ensure that right sperm is inseminated in the right patient.
No hospital admission or bed rest is needed. We offer swim up/density gradient / microfluidic IUI. Please discuss with our consultants regarding their advantage.
