Intra-uterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment during which the sperm is introduced directly into the uterus using a catheter. The goal of this treatment is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and thereby increase your chances of pregnancy. It is used for couples that have unexplained infertility, minimal male factor infertility ejaculation dysfunction and women with cervical mucus problems or cervical scar tissue due to previous procedures or endometriosis.
This is a fairly simple Assisted Reproductive Technique, with two key steps before the actual insemination. First, we put the aspiring mama on a course of ovulation-stimulating medications to stimulate the development of multiple eggs. She is monitored closely to determine when the eggs are mature and the IUI procedure is timed to coincide with the ovulation period.
Semen from the hopeful father is retrieved and 'washed' or separated using a buffered medium, which helps us retrieve highly motile, normal sperms and concentrate them into a small volume.
When the time is right, the processed sperm is injected directly into the uterus using a catheter. This maximizes the number of sperm cells that are placed in the uterus, and therefore increases the possibility of conception.
"This is an extremely simple and short procedure, with very minimal discomfort. And while the success rate is higher for women who are under the age of 35, the average success rate for this procedure ranges from 10% - 20% per cycle, which is quite close to your chances of falling pregnant naturally!" – Dr. Expert