Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a prominent fertility treatment often used as the initial approach for unexplained infertility, employing an ovulation-inducing method.
Types of Fertility Treatments
When a couple faces infertility issues, there are two primary procedures or methods to achieve pregnancy, depending on the specific situation and the underlying cause of infertility.
- IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
What is IUI?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure is a synthetic (artificial) technique for insemination, employed as a procedure to treat infertility.
When is ‘IUI’ Done in Patients?
- Donor Sperm: For females requiring donor sperm, frozen specimens from certified labs are thawed before the IUI procedure.
- Unexplained Infertility: IUI is the first treatment for unexplained infertility, often combined with ovulation-inducing medications like Letroz or Clomiphene Citrate (CC).
- Mild Male Factor Infertility (Subfertility): IUI can address problems of subfertility by using highly motile, normal sperm.
- Cervical Factor Infertility: Bypassing the cervix, IUI directly introduces sperm into the uterus, increasing the available sperm to meet the awaiting egg.
- Ovulatory Factor Infertility: IUI may be performed for females with ovulatory issues, such as an absence or reduced number of eggs.
- Semen Allergy: IUI can be effective, as many proteins in semen are removed before sperm insertion.
Risks
IUI is a generally simple and safe procedure, with low associated risks, including:
- Infection: There is a minimal risk of infection post-procedure.
- Spotting: The IUI catheter may cause slight vaginal bleeding during the procedure.
- Multiple Pregnancy: IUI is not associated with an increased risk of multiple pregnancies (twins or triplets).
What IUI Involves
IUI involves careful coordination before the actual procedure:
- Preparing the Semen Sample: Fresh semen or thawed frozen donor sperm is prepared.
- Monitoring for Ovulation: Regular analysis for signs of impending ovulation is crucial, using tools such as urine ovulation predictor kits, ultrasound, and injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).
- IUI Procedure: The procedure itself takes just a minute or two, requiring no medications or pain relievers.
If pregnancy does not occur, repeated IUI attempts over three to six months may be considered before exploring other fertility treatments.
If IUI does not yield desired results, another option is IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment.
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