Infertility used to be a big issue and a massive roadblock on the path of parenthood. However, with the growth of medical technology, now you have multiple ways to overcome this issue, and one such method is Intrauterine insemination, or IUI for short. This revolutionary assisted reproduction technology (ART) is a favorite among those who are facing fertility issues as it is a relatively quick and safe way to start the conception process. Furthermore, the specifics of intrauterine insemination IUI also make it no different from natural conception. All one needs to do is inject a bit of sperm into the uterus through an ultra-thin needle. But just saying this won’t give this treatment justice as there are many other aspects of IVF - and here we shall talk about these very aspects.
In this blog, we provide you with an overall overview of the IUI process, including its definition, why this treatment is done, the duration of this process, and more. So, keeping this in mind, let’s get started!
Before we do anything else, let's first start with the definition of an IUI. In simplest terms, IUI is a form of assisted reproductive technology that is designed to enhance the chances of a successful conception. In this treatment, the semen of the male partner is collected and filtered. Then, once this is done, the specially prepared sperm is directly injected into the uterus during the time when the ovary releases one or more eggs. This direct injection of sperm at the right time increases the chance of a successful pregnancy.
This treatment is timed with the menstrual cycle, as during the monthly cycle, one of the two ovaries releases an egg. But this is not the only way IUI can be carried out. Depending on your circumstances, IUI can also be used alongside fertility medications, which aid you in producing eggs. The specific methods to use depend on your cause of infertility.
After discussing what IUI is, the next aspect of IUI we are going to cover is why this process is done. Well, in all honesty, the specifics of why this process is done depends on your circumstances and reasons for infertility. That said, we can provide you with a general list of the reasons why you might need to do IUI. Some of the key ones among the general reasons include:
The first reason why IUI is done is when you have endometriosis. For those who are not familiar with this term, it is a condition where a tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often causing blockage, pain, and infertility. IUI essentially bypasses these blockages and barriers and directly delivers into the uterus, enhancing the fertilization process.
The second condition is when the doctors may recommend you with IUI if you are using the donor sperm. Now, the specific reason why you are using donor sperm depends on your circumstances, but this reason doesn’t really matter in this context. All that matters is that you are using the donor sperm. Reproductive experts may recommend IUI as it is a more direct approach when compared to IVF and other such procedures.
This entry is similar to our first condition in many ways. Cervical issues such as cervical mucus essentially make it hard for the sperm to swim and reach the egg, resulting in infertility. As you may guess, the IUI process directly bypasses this barrier and allows the sperm to safely reach the egg and fertilize it.
Alongside the reasons we have mentioned so far here, IUI is also done when no specific cause of infertility is determined. Under such cases, it would make sense to directly inject sperm and fertilize the egg rather than take other unsure methods most of the time.
You might already have guessed that IUI is one of the methods used when there is an issue of male infertility when we previously mentioned donor sperm. If the issue of infertility is caused by male factor infertility, the experts simply select the best sperm and inject them directly into the womb at the right time, eliminating the rest of the hassle.
These are just some of the circumstances in which experts highly recommend the IUI process. Besides the ones we mentioned here, there are other circumstances when this process is recommended. But from what we mentioned here, you should have a general idea regarding which type of circumstances when this treatment is recommended.
The next question we want to tackle when discussing the various aspects of IUI is its duration. The question to ask here is how long does the IUI process take from start to end. Well, the process takes roughly around 28 days or four weeks, which is just about the same time as a menstrual cycle. The following is a rough breakdown of the IUI process timeline for the duration of the IUI process.
From this rough timeline, you can see that most of the time is spent waiting for medication. The process itself is only just a few long. Because of this, the overall process is relatively stressless, and all you need to do is take the prescribed medication and wait.
So, at this point, you know how long the IUI process is and how long it takes. The next step in getting a brief overview of IUi is to know the preparation procedures before you begin the process itself. IUI is not all about the treatment, you know - it is also about the before and after the procedure. So, the question here is, how do you prepare for the IUI process? Well, there are three key steps you can take to prepare for the IUI process. These steps include:
One of the first things you can do to prepare for the IUI process is monitor for ovulation. You can do this process at home using ovulation predictor kits, which can detect the surge in the luteinizing hormones (LH), which triggers the release of the egg. On the other hand, the doctors may also recommend transvaginal ultrasound for monitoring and tracking egg development. Sometimes, the doctors may also recommend medications such as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or other ovulation drugs for releasing one or more eggs at the same time.
Another key aspect of preparing for the IUI process is scheduling the procedure. This process is performed one to two days after you or the doctors detect the ovulation. Once the ovulation is detected, the doctors shall provide you with a detailed plan, which includes the timing of the procedure and the things to expect during the procedure.
If you are conducting the IUI process with the semen of your partner, which is the most common scenario, the doctor washes the semen to separate the healthiest and most active sperm. This form of preparation also removes any other components in the sperm, which can cause other adverse reactions, such as severe cramping. If you are using donated sperms, however, the doctors need to thaw the frozen sperms before using them for the IUI process.
These are the three key steps you need to take before going through the IUI process. Naturally, this is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other steps you can take to prepare before taking the step. Regardless, we do hope that you understood the general gist of the overall process before starting the IUI process.
By now, you should have adequate knowledge regarding some auxiliary aspects of IUI treatment. Now, let's get to the main meat of the topic and the core aspects. One of the first core aspects we shall cover is how this process is carried out. In other words, in this part of our blog, we shall provide you with the answer to the concern of “IUI process step by step? Well, the specific process of the IUI depends on your circumstances. The doctors may need to deviate from the core process depending on your health, reaction to medication, and other such circumstances. Therefore, it is nigh impossible to provide you with the exact process that matches your situation. However, we can provide you with the core process. The key steps involved in the core process are as follows:
Timing is one of the key elements of this process. Because of this, the first chunk of the IUI process is all about tracking the ovulation process. Now, as we mentioned prior, you can do this either at home using the test kits or in a hospital. That said, the experts may also provide you with stimulating hormones to stimulate your ovulation. Regardless of how the ovulation is triggered, you need to track it accurately so that you can continue with the procedure.
This is another aspect of IUI that we have mentioned previously. Once the experts have determined the right time for the IUI process, they then process the sperm sample. The sperm sample can be from your partner or a donated sperm. Regardless of the source of the sperm, they are washed to filter out unwanted debris and poor-quality sperm. The only difference between processing sperm from your partner and donated sperm is that donated sperm needs to be thawed before being washed.
This step is the core of all the IUI processes, as this is where the insemination takes place. During this process, you lie down at an examination table. Then the experts insert a speculum into your vagina before inserting a thin catheter. This device then places the washed sperm directly into your uterus before being extracted. All of this takes roughly five to ten minutes. However, you may be asked to lie down for another ten to thirty minutes to enhance the chances of success.
By this point, the entire process is complete. You only need to do the follow-up tests, one of which is the pregnancy test after around two weeks of the insemination process. You should always ask your healthcare professional for specific information and advice before departing from the hospital post-procedure. Along with this, if you have any queries regarding the IUI procedure, you can also ask them at this point, as having doubts cleared is better than being muddleheaded.
These are the four key steps involved in the IUI process. We realize that the process is a rather short one. However, IUI is highly effective because the process is short, direct, and simple.
At this point, you now know the duration, what to do before the procedure and the IUI process details. But what can you expect during and after the procedure? As with the answer to just about every aspect we discussed so far, there is no specific answer to this question. However, we can provide you with a general overview regarding what you can expect during and after the procedure.
During the procedure itself, you can expect to lie down on a table and place your legs in stirrups. Following this, you can expect a speculum to be inserted into your vagina to open its walls. This might be a weird feeling, so expect a slight push on your vaginal wall. Following this, you can feel the insertion of a healthy sperm using a catheter and the removal of the device. This entire process is not painful and mildly discomforting at worst, with a bit of a weird feeling of your vaginal walls being pushed.
Once the procedure itself is completed, you can expect to lie down on the table for a few more minutes with your legs still up to enhance the success rates. Following this, you dress up and go back to your normal routine. Just be careful not to do highly stressful activities.
Although the specifics of what you can expect during and after the procedure may vary, this is the overall gist of what you can experience during and after the procedure.
Also Learn:- Precautions After IUI: Do's and Don'ts After IUI Treatment
And now, let’s finally discuss some of the risks and side effects associated with the IUI process. While the chances of getting the risk and side effects we are about to mention are rather on the lower side, they are still present. This is, after all, a medical procedure, and no medical procedure is 100% guaranteed to be safe. But you may wonder- what are the risks associated with the IUI process? Some of the key risks associated with this process include:
These three are the key risks and side effects associated with IUI. Although there are a few other side effects, their chances are even lower when compared to the ones we mentioned here.
After discussing the risk of the IUI, which might have worried you, let's talk about an aspect that might give you a pleasant surprise for a change. While the cost of any infertility procedure is not cheap by any means, IUI is a highly affordable one. The overall IUI process cost is between NPR 15,000 and 30,000, which is a lot more affordable than other forms of infertility treatments. Now, do note that we can only provide you with an estimated price range as the specifics depend on the medications and other additional treatments you might need. Regardless, 30K on NPR is still a highly affordable price for infertility treatment.
As we near the end of this topic, let's finally discuss the success rate of this procedure. The thing here is that there is no fixed answer to the success rates either. The IUI process success rate also depends on the cycle as well. The more cycles there are, the higher the success rates. That said, before we provide you with the success rates at a later cycle, let us allow you to provide varying success rates at the first cycle.
The success rate of IUI on the first cycle is divided based on age, and as such, the following is the categorization of IUI success rate based on age.
| Age | Success Rate |
| Under 35 | 15%-20% |
| Between 35-40 | 10%-15% |
| Over 40 | 5%-10% |
Furthermore, as we mentioned previously, the success rate of this process increases with the increase in the cycle as your body becomes more ready to accept the injected sperm. In general, the success rate of IUI after the third cycle can reach anywhere between 3-0% to 50%.
You should also note that besides the number of cycles and age, other factors such as medications and sperm quality also greatly affect the success rate.
Last but not least, one of the key questions you may have concerning IUI treatments is where you can get them.Well, if you are in Nepal and want to get the best IUI treatments, then Hardik IVF and Fertility Center are the best options for you. But why choose Hardik? Some of the key reasons for choosing IUI procedures at Hardik include:
IUI, in simple words, is a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that is designed to bypass the process of sperm needing to reach the ovum through various channels. By doing so, this process solves multiple forms of issues at once. That said, before you start the procedure, you should be aware of how the process goes, its side effects, duration, cost, and success rates. Knowing a good fertility center for this also aids you greatly.
In this blog, we provide you with a general overview of the entire IUI process. We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into the various aspects of IUI, do check out some of our other blogs. If you want the best IUI service in Nepal, look no further than Hardik IVF and Fertility Center, which is the best IUI center in Nepal. Thank you for reading till the end.
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Pregnancy success with IUI typically depends on factors like age, the underlying cause of infertility, and the number of cycles attempted. The success rate per cycle is about 10-20%, and most successful pregnancies occur within three to six cycles of IUI?.
No, IUI is not successful 100%. Success rates range from 10 to 20% in the case of most couples per cycle, these are modified by factors such as age, health conditions, and sperm and egg quality. Success rates may go up to repeated cycles to about 30-50% cumulative for many couples.
IUI is not normally painful. Most people describe the procedure as no worse than a minor discomfort, similar to a Pap smear. Afterwards, there may be mild cramping or spotting; however, pain is seldom extreme.
The indications vary between IUI and IVF. IUI is less invasive, less expensive, and generally advised for couples with unexplained infertility, mild male factor infertility, or ovulatory issues. IVF will have higher success rates, especially over 35 years in women, and should be preferred in complicated fertility problems such as severe male infertility or blocked fallopian tubes. IVF is, however, much more expensive and invasive.
A blood test or a home pregnancy test taken about two weeks after the IUI procedure can confirm whether you are pregnant. Common early signs of pregnancy include missed periods, fatigue, and other pregnancy symptoms, but testing provides definitive results.