Artificial insemination may provide a more natural approach to assisted reproduction for couples experiencing infertility, solo mothers, or same-sex couples.
Artificial or intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a less invasive fertility treatment that involves injecting your partner’s or donor’s sperm directly into your uterus with a very thin catheter, with the aim of giving it a head start in reaching the egg for fertilisation.
IUI can be performed during a normal cycle or with ovulation induction. Dr Parmar will advise you of her recommended option and discuss this in further detail with you during your initial comprehensive consultation.
As with any treatment, you will have an initial consultation to better understand your health, medical history, goals, and personal circumstances. Based on these investigations and the results of any further fertility testing as indicated, Dr Parmar will advise whether IUI is a suitable treatment option for you.
Using ultrasounds and blood tests, Dr Parmar will monitor your cycle to determine the day of ovulation. If you are having IUI with ovulation induction, these tests identify the right timing for your trigger shot to release the egg.
If you are conceiving with a male partner, he will produce his sperm sample on the day of your insemination procedure. If you are undergoing IUI with donor sperm, this is thawed. The sperm sample is processed and concentrated, removing unhealthy sperm, debris, and excess seminal fluid.
IUI is typically a day procedure, involving the sperm being inserted directly into your uterus through a very thin catheter via your cervix. You may feel some mild discomfort similar to a cervical screening test, but the procedure is otherwise very well tolerated. Light sedation can be offered if you are particularly anxious or suffer from vaginismus.
Approximately two weeks after your insemination procedure, you will have a blood test to see whether a pregnancy is progressing.
Per cycle, IUI is associated with lower success rates compared to in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, IUI is often recommended as a first-line fertility treatment as it is less invasive, less complex, and less costly than other treatments such as IVF, while still improving your chances of conception compared to no intervention.
IUI success rates tend to be higher in younger women, as egg quality is typically better. Other factors influencing your chances of success with IUI include sperm quality, whether insemination followed medical ovulation induction or your natural cycle, and if any other factors affecting fertility are present.
