| Intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves preparing the male partners sperm in the laboratory and then placing those sperm which move well, into the women’s uterus.
It is an OPD procedure and does not cause pain. The technique involves placing the d sperms directly into the uterus using a vaginal speculum and a fine catheter to deposit the sperm within the uterus (womb) through the neck of the womb. Insemination is carried out once or twice during a woman's fertile period of the menstrual cycle as close to ovulation as possible. Fertility medications may be needed to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs.
IUI can be performed with the sperm of the male partner or with donor sperm.
The success of intrauterine insemination depends on 2 factors
- The indication for intrauterine insemination (the reason it is being performed)
- Whether performed in a natural (drug free) cycle or in a cycle where medications are used to induce formation of eggs.
In general intrauterine insemination is a good assisted conception treatment if it is performed to overcome a problem of lack or absence of sperm ie using donor sperm for severe male subfertility.. It is also very successful if intercourse is not occurring normally such as in cases of ejaculation dysfunction (ED).
Intrauterine insemination is moderately successful when used for cervical mucus hostility when sperm are killed within the cervix.
Intrauterine insemination tends to be less useful if the indication is male factor subfertility ie low numbers or movement of sperm or in unexplained infertility or mild endometriosis.
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