Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), also known as donor insemination is an artificial insemination treatment where the doctor uses a thin, flexible tube known as a catheter to place concentrated sperm of a donor or your partner inside the uterus around the time one is ovulating. Some women are given medications to stimulate ovulation. IUI is a relatively less expensive treatment that has helped millions of couples become pregnant, however everyone’s body is different and what might work for one might not work for the other.
Who is IUI meant for?
- Those with severe sexual dysfunction
- Those with cervical issues
- Those with mild endometriosis
- Those with a hostile vaginal and cervical environment
- Those with subfertility or decreased sperm count
Who is IUI not meant for?
- Those with blocked fallopian tubes
- Those with severe endometriosis
- Those with previous pelvic infection
What to expect after the procedure?
The whole process is done in a fertility clinic. Your partner/donor will give his semen sample which goes through a special washing procedure before the sperm is directly placed in the uterus. It takes less than 30 minutes and is generally easy and simple with tolerable discomfort. To increase the chances of getting pregnant, many are suggested to have intercourse or vaginal progesterone. Your doctor might conduct blood tests to check your progesterone and estrogen levels within a week of the procedure. After a two week wait you will be asked to take a pregnancy test.
How to survive the two week wait?
- Think happy thoughts: A bit cliché but staying positive might just prove to be the solution to your infertility. Remaining optimistic through the chaos in your mind by the means of self-talk would not just calm your nerves but would also relieve stress and promote a positive result.
- Healthy eating for a smooth ride ahead: Through the fertility treatment it’s integral to eat the right foods and avoid alcohol since it might affect your chances of conceiving. Protein rich food and fewer carbs would lead to a healthier pregnancy.
- Mild workout: It’s important to give your body a break but it’s also essential to find a hobby and move your body a bit to avoid becoming a couch potato and the negative waves of thought that comes along with it. However, rigorous workouts are a big no no!
The two-week waiting period can be torturous, so restrain from googling about it, find a hobby to distress yourself, give your anxiety a break by ditching social media and everyone’s perfect lives for a while, focus on your physical and mental well-being and avoid taking an early pregnancy test.
Advantages of IUI:
- As compared to other treatments, IUI relatively puts less physiological stress on the body.
- IUI treatment increases the chances as compared to regular sex since the sperm is accelerated straight to the egg for fertilization.
- The cost is far less than other treatments.
- The treatment timing is very short.
- The sperm quality is enhanced during the special washing procedure.
Disadvantages of IUI:
- A lot of special care has to be taken for the procedure to deliver the desired results such as:
- Partner should be ovulating while carrying out the pregnancy test
- Sperm should have a certain level of motility
- Fallopian tubes should be clear and undamaged
- There is a risk of conceiving multiples.
- The fertility drugs used during the procedure can cause side effects such as mood swings, hot flashes, depression, bloating, breast tenderness and rashes. They’re however mild and disappear after medication.
- The fertility drugs may cause swollen and painful ovaries, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
IUI has proven to be a better procedure in terms of its financial account, simplicity and convenience as compared to other artificial insemination procedures, which is why couples search for their fertility solutions in IUI. Seek professional help for further assistance.