What is IUI?
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. The most common reasons for IUI are low sperm count or decreased sperm mobility. However, IUI may be selected as a fertility treatment for any of the following conditions as well: Unexplained infertility
IUI Success:
The success of IUI depends on several factors. If a couple has the IUI procedure performed each month, success rates may reach as high as 20% per cycle depending on variables such as female age, the reason for infertility, and whether fertility drugs were used, among other variables.
Due to an increased success rate, I prefer to use Gonadotrophins for stimulation. The usual dose is 50 to 75 units of recombinant FSH for 5 days starting from day 2 of the periods. Serum estradiol and an Ultrasound scan are advised the same day to rule out any functional ovarian cyst from the previous cycle from day 6th of the stimulation follicle tracking by ultrasound scan is done at the clinic and decided if further FSH is needed or not. Once the dominant follicle reaches a size of 18 to 20 mm, HCG injection is administered.
36 to 48 hours after HCG injection Ovulation is expected and IUI is timed accordingly. One needs to sign a detailed consent form prior to the procedure.
The partner is supposed not to ejaculate semen 48 hours prior to the procedure. On the day of the procedure, the Husband is supposed to give semen samples by masturbation at the andrology lab which takes almost 45 minutes in processing it. Once processed, semen is loaded in an IUI syringe and semen is put inside the uterus of the lady. IUI isn’t a painful procedure, done without anesthesia and at worst can be called uncomfortable.
The lady would need to lie down for 30 minutes post-procedure and is advised a Progesterone supplement for 2 weeks. In the case of a missed cycle serum, Beta HCG is recommended to confirm pregnancy. A total of 3 to 6 IUI cycles are recommended. The next step after which is IVF. Very rarely incase of hyperstimulation where there is the possibility of multiple pregnancies, the IUI cycle can be converted to the IVF cycle.
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