Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a form of artificial insemination for achieving conception. It involves placing pure sperm in the uterus when the ovaries release one or more eggs. The procedure enables the sperm to travel through the fallopian tubes to conceive a baby.
IUI is a first-line fertility treatment that doctors usually suggest before resorting to other procedures. It is a simple, inexpensive, and minimally invasive infertility treatment.
Depending on diagnosed infertility causes, your doctor may combine IUI with typical cycle or fertility drugs.
Who Is A Good Candidate For IUI Treatment
You are a good candidate for IUI treatment if you have any of the following:
- Donor sperm. For women who need donor sperm to get pregnant, the use of IUI is very common. The doctor obtains frozen donor sperm from approved labs and then thaws them for IUI.
- Problems with endometriosis. If you have endometriosis, IUI can be the first treatment option. The doctor may suggest the combination of IUI with other methods.
- Infertility without possible explanation. If there are no clear causes of infertility, your doctor will most likely use IUI as the first treatment.
- Mild male subfertility. Semen analysis is a primary procedure for diagnosing male infertility. Sperm analysis may detect issues with sperm quality, count, and motility. Preparation of IUI involves the separation of good sperm from bad, to boost fertility chances.
- Cervical factor infertility. The female cervix on the uterus serves as a route between the vagina and the uterus. The cervix produces mucus around ovulation and offers a suitable environment for the sperm to travel through. Any damage to the cervix may cause thickening and result in infertility. In such cases, IUI may help the sperm bypass the cervix and reach the egg for conception.
- Semen allergy. Although uncommon, some women’s reproductive system rejects and fights the protein content of semen. If the allergy is serious, IUI may help by removing most of the allergy-causing proteins in semen.
- Ovulation problems. IUI may help by assisting the proper production and release of eggs. If the doctor combines IUI with special medication, the chances of conception increase.
- Erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction prevents the production and release of sperm for conception. As IUI collects sperm without traditional intercourse, it may help with fertilization.
Advantages of IUI Treatment
The main advantages of IUI treatment include:
- It is less invasive. IUI is not a complex or invasive procedure, thus safer for more sensitive couples.
- It mimics natural conception. Compared to other artificial fertility procedures, IUI mimics natural conception by combining insemination and ovulation.
IUI Treatment Procedure
The IUI procedure involves the following basic steps:
- Tracking of your ovulation cycle. The first step involves finding the time of ovulation to inseminate and fertilize the egg. If you have ovulation problems, the doctor will likely administer medications or injections to induce ovulation.
- Preparation of the semen sample. Typically, your partner will provide a semen sample at the doctor’s lab. If you are using donor sperm, the doctor will defrost the sperm and prepare it for IUI. Preparation involves the isolation of good sperm from bad and impure sperm.
- Injection of the prepared sperm. Finally, the doctor injects the sperm into the uterine through a catheter, within 48 hours after detecting ovulation.
What To Expect
An initial IUI session takes around 15-20 minutes. The procedure itself takes only a couple of minutes. You don’t have to use any painkillers or numbing agents as the procedure is painless.
During the procedure your physician will:
- Ask you to lie on an examination counter with your legs in a stirrup position.
- Insert a tool in your vagina known as a speculum.
- Attach a vial with the sperm into the catheter.
- Insert the catheter into the vagina through the cervix to reach the uterus.
- Take off the catheter and then the speculum.
Once the doctor completes the procedure, you will have to lie on your back for a few minutes. Your doctor will let you know once the process is complete so you can get dressed. You can return to your normal daily activities the same day.
You may encounter subtle spotting within 1-2 days after treatment but don’t let this bother you. It is not a sign of a problem.
IUI Treatment Results
You should wait 14 days to find out whether the treatment has worked and you are pregnant. Earlier testing may result in either:
- False negative. If your pregnancy hormones haven’t risen enough to show up, the test will appear as a false negative. This means that you may be actually pregnant but the test reveals otherwise.
- False positive. If you are taking any ovulation-inducing medication, these substances may send a false signal that you are pregnant when you are not.
You may take an at-home pregnancy test. However, for higher accuracy, you should get checked by your doctor after 14 days.
IUI Treatment Cost in Malaysia
The average IUI treatment cost in Malaysia costs anywhere from RM 1000 – 3000. We offer a premium IUI package at an affordable cost. Do not hesitate to contact us for initial consultation and quote.
IUI Risks & Drawbacks
As IUI is generally a safe method, there are no adverse side effects involved. The main risk of IUI is that it may lead to multiple unwanted pregnancies.
Also, IUI is a first-line method and thus may not work as well as other methods. It also requires undamaged fallopian tubes and ovulation to work. Although uncommon, there is also a low risk of developing an infection after IUI.
Some spotting is normal a few days after IUI. If you encounter excessive bleeding, you should inform your doctor immediately. Excessive bleeding is rare but may indicate a serious problem.
Additionally, some women may encounter temporary mood changes around ovulation and conception time. These are expected after conception and during pregnancy.
To mitigate such risks, it is important to choose highly skilled IUI specialists. At TMC Fertility, we take all the necessary measures to ensure the safety and efficiency of the process.
FAQ
IUI treatments increase the odds of getting pregnant by 10-15% per treatment cycle. As such, multiple treatments may be necessary to induce pregnancy. The chances increase by as much as 50% during the 3rd and consecutive sessions.
Although conception is possible from the first session, most couples will require 3-6 IUI sessions to conceive a baby.
If you had multiple IUI sessions with no results, your doctor may suggest other treatments such as IVF to help you conceive. IVF is the most effective fertility treatment as it works for approximately 75% of eligible cases.
Most women that undergo IUI consider it fairly painless. Some women may encounter some mild discomfort during tubulus and semen injections.
No. Once the doctor injects the sperm into the uterus, there is no chance of sperm falling off. You may encounter some wetness after IUI but that relates to the catheter relaxing the cervical mucus.
Implantation takes place around 7 days following your ovulation and IUI session.
Unless the doctor tells you otherwise, you may return to your regular activities the same day. Mild activities like walking, jogging, meditation and stretching are not a problem. You should avoid heavier exercises like weight lifting, climbing, and professional swimming.
It’s important to follow a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle. Also, avoid taking any prescription drugs that limit your chances of getting pregnant. If you are unsure about certain medications, consult your doctor. Take ovulation-inducing drugs prescribed by the doctor as instructed. Remember that without ovulation, the IUI treatment will fail.
TMC Fertility, the Leading Fertility Centre for IUI Treatment
At TMC Fertility, we have a robust team which includes our fertility specialists, embryologists and nurses. We have helped many couples already conceive a baby through IUI and other methods. For more info, check out our range of services and contact us today.