IUI Treatment – Intra Uterine Insemination

What is IUI?

Why Intra Uterine Insemination?

• Unexplained infertility: IUI is recommended by doctors as a first treatment for unexplained infertility along with ovulation-inducing medications.
• Endometriosis: When infertility is caused due to endometriosis, using medications to obtain a good-quality egg along with performing IUI is often the first treatment approach.
• Using donor sperm: When a donor sperm is being used for conception, IUI is commonly used. Frozen donor sperm specimens are obtained from certified labs and thawed before the IUI procedure.
• Infertility due to cervical issues: If the cervical mucus is too thick, it may impede the sperm’s journey. IUI bypasses the cervix, leading to a successful pregnancy.
• Infertility due to ovarian issues: IUI may also be performed for women who have infertility caused by problems with ovulation, including an absence of ovulation or a reduced number of eggs.
• Semen allergy: In rare cases, an allergy to proteins in semen can cause infertility. If the patient’s sensitivity is severe, IUI can be effective, since many of the proteins in semen are removed before the sperm is inserted.
• Male infertility: In cases of below-average sperm concentration, problems with motility, or sperm morphology, IUI can help overcome some of these problems.

How can I prepare for an IUI?

There is a lot of coordination that needs to be done prior to an IUI. 

Some steps followed include:

• Preparing the semen sample: The man will need to provide the doctor with a semen sample, or a donor sperm is chosen. A vial or frozen donor sperm is thawed and prepared in that case. Because no sperm elements in semen can cause reactions in the woman’s body that interfere with fertilization, the sample will be washed in a way that separates the highly active, normal sperm from lower quality sperm and other elements. The likelihood of achieving pregnancy increases by using a small, highly concentrated sample of healthy sperm.
• Monitoring for ovulation: IUI is all about the timing and hence, the doctor will need to monitor the woman for signs of impending ovulation. This is very critical. To do this, a woman might use an at-home urine ovulation predictor kit that detects when one’s body produces a surge or release of luteinizing hormone (LH). Otherwise, the doctor may opt for an imaging method that lets the doctor visualize your ovaries and egg growth. This can be done through a transvaginal ultrasound. The woman also may be given an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or medications to make one ovulate one or more eggs at the right time.
• Determining optimal timing: Most IUIs are done a day or two after detecting ovulation. The doctor will have a plan in place for the timing of your procedure and what to expect.

What happens during an IUI?

The process of IUI usually takes about 15 to 20 mins and is usually done at a fertility clinic. The IUI procedure itself takes just a minute or two and requires no medications or pain relievers. 

The process is as follows:

• You will be asked to lie down on an examination table with your legs in stirrups.
• The doctor will then insert a speculum into the vagina.
• A vial is then attached containing a sample of healthy sperm to the end of a long, thin, flexible tube (catheter)
• The catheter is then inserted into the vagina, through the cervical opening and into the uterus
• The sperm sample is then pushed through the tube into the uterus
• The catheter will then remove the catheter, followed by the speculum

IUI Treatment Cost

IUI isn’t as expensive as other fertility treatments. On an average, a single cycle of IUI treatment costs approximately INR 15,000 inclusive of all tests and medication.

To Conclude