Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
/What is an Intrauterine Insemination?
- Intrauterine Insemination, or an IUI, is the process of placing sperm inside a woman's uterus to facilitate fertilization. With an IUI, there is a greater quantity of sperm placed directly into the uterus, therefore increasing the chances of fertilization.
Who is a candidate for an IUI?
- For women who are having difficulty conceiving, IUI's provide a way to bypass some of the major obstacles leading to infertility, such as low sperm counts, suboptimal sperm morphology, endometriosis, or poor cervical mucous. IUI's are also great for empowered single woman wanting to start a family and same sex partners.
What is the process like?
- The actual procedure for an IUI is almost identical at majority of clinics. It's very similar as an annual exam, where at first, a speculum is placed inside the vagina to reveal the cervix. At this point, a small catheter, about the size of a cocktail straw, is placed through the cervix and into the uterus where the sample is placed. The actual procedure takes about 5 minutes. After, it is recommended to lay with your hips elevated for 30 minutes. During this time, different modalities can be done to encourage fertilization, such as Maya Abdominal Massage and Acupuncture.
How efficacious is doing IUI's?
- This is a very difficult question to answer as it pertains to each individual case. On average, it is estimated to be around 10-25% per cycle. This percentage can increase when pairing IUI's with other treatments such as Maya Abdominal Massage, Acupuncture, and diet and lifestyle modification. Medications, such as Clomid and Letrozole can be used to induce healthier and more robust ovulations, which may increase conception as well.
