IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) treatments

With IUI treatment, fertilisation takes place within the patients’ body rather than in the laboratory

What is IUI Treatment?

IUI treatment is a form of fertility treatment that helps a higher number of better quality sperm reach the womb, increasing the chances of fertilisation. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) simply means putting prepared sperm into the uterus. You might have heard it called artificial insemination.

When might you be offered IUI treatments?

IUI is recommended for people who’ve been unable to conceive a child through natural methods. The most common reasons for this are low sperm count or poor sperm mobility. If you’re a couple younger than 35, you might consider IUI after trying unsuccessfully to conceive for one year. If you’re older than 35, you might be a candidate if you’ve been trying to conceive for six months.

Before undertaking IUI, you and your partner will be assessed to discover the main reason behind your difficulty conceiving. This will help you decide whether IUI is right for you.

A woman will need open and healthy fallopian tubes to be considered for IUI.

IUI will not be offered if you have unexplained fertility, poor quality sperm of mild endometriosis, as research suggests it’s unlikely to increase your chances of pregnancy.

What does the IUI treatment process look like?

IUI is a process that puts healthy sperm directly into the uterus. To do this, a vial containing a sperm sample is attached to a catheter. This is inserted through the vagina and the cervical opening, finishing in the uterus. Sperm is then pushed through the tube and into the uterus.

The procedure only takes a few minutes to complete, and is almost always completely painless. Some mild discomfort may occur, and you may experience mild cramps, but both feelings should disappear once the process is over.
We time IUI treatment to coincide with ovulation, using blood or urine tests and ultrasound to carefully monitor the ovulation cycle. If needed, we might also trigger ovulation with medication and then time the procedure to take place 36 hours later.

IUI considerations

Before undertaking IUI, it’s worth remembering that – as with any fertility treatment – there is no guarantee of success. IUI success rates are around 13%, and you may require multiple cycles in order to conceive.

We have over 25 years of IUI expertise, and one of our fertility specialists would be happy to talk you through the process and any risks associated with it.

Risks associated with IUI

While the risks of IUI are incredibly low, there is still a chance of the following:

• Infection following the procedure.
• Spotting. Inserting the catheter can cause a small amount of vaginal bleeding, but this rarely has an impact on the chances of pregnancy.
• Multiple pregnancy, when performed with ovulation-inducing medication.

Benefits associated with IUI

• IUI is a good option for single women and same sex couples who don’t have fertility issues but who need donor sperm.
• IUI is the lowest cost form of assisted reproduction treatment.
• There is no egg collection involved in IUI meaning that there is no invasive procedure and sedation is not required.
• Incredibly safe, with very low risks involved.
• Mostly painless procedure.

Success with IUI

Whilst IUI is a less invasive and less expensive option than IVF, pregnancy rates from IUI are lower than IVF. Reasons include the fact that there is no monitoring of embryo development or selection of the most viable embryo as we can do with IVF.

The success of IUI depends on many factors, including:

• • The reason IUI is being performed. If IUI is being used to help lesbian couples or single women using donor sperm there isn’t necessarily a fertility issue preventing them from becoming pregnant.
  • The woman’s age.
  • The man’s sperm count and quality of sperm.
  • Whether it is carried out in a drug stimulated or natural (drug free) cycle.

Average Cost of IUI in Various Cities

The above costs may vary depending on the mentioned factors :

What to Keep In Mind while Calculating the Cost of IUI?

The average cost of IUI varies from city to city. However, the cost of the procedure is not the only thing that should fit into your budget. When it comes to fertility treatment, a single cycle is not always enough to conceive. Many couples take up to 3 cycles to have a successful pregnancy. Thus, you should account for the cost of additional cycles as well. If you are traveling to another place to undergo the procedure, you will also have to bear in mind the travel and hotel costs.

How to Choose an IUI Clinic?

Do not only look at the cost of the procedure when deciding where to get treatment from. You must also look at the infrastructure and facilities available. Additionally, make sure you feel comfortable with your doctor. IUI has a success rate of about 16-20%. It is important to note that this success rate varies from case to case on the basis of the patient’s age and the reason for infertility.