Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI)

Artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves inserting the male partners (or donor’s) prepared semen through the neck of the womb (cervix) and into the uterus, close to the time of ovulation. It is a simpler, less invasive form of fertility treatment. If you or your partner has been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, hostile cervical mucus, minor sperm abnormalities or other male disorders, IUI is sometimes a successful option.

We usually grow embryos in the laboratory until Day 5, known as the Blastocyst stage, because there is strong evidence that these embryos are more likely to implant into the uterus. Fertilised embryos are transferred to the woman’s uterus in a simple procedure call an embryo transfer (a very similar technique to a pap smear).If there is any concern about sperm quality, the process of fertilisation is carried out by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). This is where one sperm is inserted into each egg.

IUI PROCESS:

NATURAL CYCLE

This option does not involve any medication and works with the woman’s natural menstrual cycle.

ARTIFICIAL HORMONE STIMULATION (OR OVULATION INDUCTION)

This option involves the use of medication to stimulate the ovaries and cause or regulate ovulation with FSH (follicle stimulating hormones) injections.

The semen sample is analyzed and washed to concentrate the motile sperm. The final prepared sample is used for insemination where it is gently inserted into the uterine cavity using a speculum and a small catheter. An IUI procedure is performed by a nurse or doctor and is usually not painful, although sometimes you might feel mild cramping and/or discomfort. You should be able to return to work straight away.