Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment in which a semen sample is deposited directly into a woman’s uterus. Before the insemination procedure, the semen sample is prepared in a laboratory to ensure it only contains the healthiest sperm. This treatment improves the chances of pregnancy by shortening the distance between the spermatozoon and ovum to assist in faciliating fertilisation.
An IUI treatment using semen from a male partner is recommended for:
An IUI treatment using semen from a donor is recommended for:
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During your first visit to IVI London, your consultant will discuss your medical history and advise which fertility treatments will be most effective given your specific circumstances. If you choose intrauterine insemination (IUI), then we will create a treatment pathway for you which is as follows:
In a normal menstrual cycle, a woman grows a single follicle, producing a single ovum (egg), each month. To increase the chances of success, you will begin a course of gentle hormonal stimulation in order to grow more follicles and release more eggs during ovulation. This process lasts between 10 – 12 days. Furthermore, the sperm sample will be analysed to ensure it contains a minimum concentration of motile spermatozoa.
During this time, you will undergo a series of ultrasound scans and blood tests to monitor the growth and development of the follicles. When the follicles have reached an adequate size and number, the artificial insemination procedure is ready to be scheduled. This procedure will be timed to take place around 36 hours after an hCG injection is administered, which induces oocytes maturation and triggers ovulation. Your hCG injection is administered at home. Your medical team will provide clear and thorough instructions on how, and when, to administer your hCG injection.
Semen analysis and preparation is an essential element of an intrauterine insemination fertility treatment. It consists of closely examining the semen sample to select, and concrete, the spermatozoa with the best morphology (size and shape) and motility (movement and speed). To do this, the sperm sample is processed by means of semen capacitation, allowing dead, immobile or slow spermatozoa to be eliminated. Once optimised, the semen is ready to be used in the procedure.
The insemination is then carried out at the clinic after ovulation has been induced. In preparation for the procedure, a speculum is inserted, which is no more uncomfortable than having a smear test. A cannula (a very thin plastic tube) is then passed through the cervix, where the sample is safely deposited.
Roughly two weeks after the intrauterine insemination procedure, you will be invited to the clinic for a pregnancy blood test to confirm whether it was successful. Results should be available within the same day.
