Exploring fertility treatments is one of the first things you are likely to do as a couple struggling with fertility. However, how will you know the treatment that is right for you? If you are looking for less invasive fertility treatment, your doctor may recommend intrauterine insemination (IUI). IUI in Celebration does not require your doctor to harvest your eggs through a series of invasive procedures. As a result, IUI might be your gynecologist’s first recommendation in your search for fertility treatment. However, the treatment might not address all your infertility issues. For instance, IUI may not be effective if you have a severe case of endometriosis or have damaged fallopian tubes.
Which scenarios require IUI?
Intrauterine insemination will be your go-to procedure if you are looking for less invasive fertility treatment. However, your gynecologist may advise you to start with IUI before proceeding to IVF, if necessary. During IUI treatment, your doctor can either use your partner’s sperm or a donor’s sperm. Your doctor may recommend the process in the following instances:
- Erection or ejaculation issues
- Low sperm count
- Mild endometriosis
- Minimal sperm mobility
- Problems with your cervical mucus or cervix
- Ovulatory factor infertility
- Semen allergy
- Single or same-sex couples hoping to conceive
- Unexplained infertility
- A couple trying to avoid transferring genetic defect from the father to the unborn child
However, the procedure might fail to be effective if:
- You have blocked, infected, or removed fallopian tubes
- You have severe endometriosis
- You have a history of pelvic infections
- The male partner produces no sperm
How should you prepare for the treatment?
IUI requires careful coordination before your doctor finalizes the treatment. The process requires the following preparations:
Semen sample
Your healthcare provider may require your partner to produce a semen sample or thaw donor sperm and prepare. The doctor then washes the selection to separate the active sperm from low-quality sperm. The separation increases your chances of conception since your doctor will only use a small sample with a high concentration of healthy sperm. Washing also eliminates non-sperm elements that might react with your body and interfere with fertilization.
Monitoring your ovulation
IUI requires crucial timing. As a result, your gynecologist might advise you to look out for impending ovulation signs by using a urine ovulation predictor kit. Alternatively, your doctor may use an imaging test to visualize the growth of your eggs and ovaries. The medical expert may also administer HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) injection or medications to accelerate your egg production.
Optimal timing
After checking out your ovulation signs, your doctor may perform the treatment approximately 2 days after your ovulation.
Your healthcare provider may recommend a pregnancy test around two weeks after the treatment. The gynecologist may also suggest a blood test after your test kit results to check for pregnancy hormones after IUI treatment.
What are the benefits you are likely to have with IUI?
- Minimal tension on your body
- Less invasive
- The treatment has high conception rate
- Anesthesia will not be needed since the treatment is not painful.
- The procedure is shorter compared to other invasive treatments like IVF
- The washing process before insemination increases sperm quality
Intrauterine insemination might be your best option when you have unexplained infertility, or your partner has sperm-factor infertility. Contact your healthcare provider for all your fertility queries and the best treatments to begin your parenthood journey.