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Artificial Insemination (IUI)

Artificial Insemination (IUI)

Artificial Insemination

Pregnancy is conceived when the sperm meets with egg. This can happen under natural circumstances as it happens usually during sexual intercourse. There is also another way for the union of sperm and egg. This method is known as Intrauterine Insemination, IUI. In this process, sperms are placed in the woman’s uterus at the time of ovulation to enhance the chances of fertilization.

When to opt for IUI:

IUI treatment starts in the first 5 days of the menstrual cycle. Baseline transvaginal scanning is done, to begin with. This is followed by ovulation induction with the help of hormonal tablets and injections. Follicular study is then conducted to monitor the growth of follicles. Meanwhile, the sperm sample is washed and processed to separate the motile sperms from debris. The motile sperms are then injected into the uterus during ovulation.

The follicular study starts in the first five days of the cycle. IUI process happens around the time of ovulation which can occur anytime between 12th to 18th day of the cycle.

There are a few things that need to be taken care of before, during and after the treatment:

The success rate of IUI depends on the proper selection of cases and varies from 10% to 20%.

There is also the risk of medication side-effects like:

Bloating
Nausea
Water retention

If the cycle is monitored properly and the procedure is carried with due care, the chances of complications are rather slim. When opting for IUI, there are a few things that the patients must consider. In cases of IUI with donor sperms, the couple must be aware that the genetic makeup of the baby will be after that of the biological father (donor) and will be different from legal father. While selecting a semen sample, the characteristics of the parents need to be matched. IUI requires documented ovulation, at least one healthy tube and healthy, motile sperms.