If you are new to infertility treatment and wondering how you can get pregnant, then you are in the right place. Here is a guide to the IUI process or Intrauterine Insemination, which is the first line of treatment when it comes to infertility.
What is IUI?
Intrauterine insemination or IUI includes injecting sperms directly in the womb of women or in the uterus around the time of ovulation. It is a simple procedure that takes only 5 minutes and doesn’t need you to get admitted to the hospital.
IUI treatment can be coordinated with fertility drugs depending on the reason for your infertility. Intrauterine insemination is done on the healthy individual where fallopian tubes are not blocked.
How does it work?
IUI procedure is recommended for unexplained infertility, mild male infertility, and endometriosis. In an IUI treatment, females are given medicines that induce ovulation for egg production. Then the doctor suggests follicular monitoring. When the eggs reach the size of 18-21 mm, the trigger injection is given, which helps in releasing the eggs from the ovary. The process is called ovulation. After 36-40 hours of ovulation, IUI is done. IUI enables us to match the timing of availability of sperms and ovum, and the process allows the best sperms to reach directly to the uterine capacity. This reduces the time and the distance that sperm takes to reach the egg.
Also, Read – IUI Treatment: What to Expect?
How does IUI differ from IVF?
In IVF, doctors give injections daily for 10 days to produce more than one egg. The eggs are then collected and fertilized with the sperm outside the body in a lab. Embryos are formed in the laboratory and then transferred to a woman’s womb. IUI is different in this process; selected sperms are injected into the uterus for fertilization inside a woman’s body. So, for IUI treatment to get successful, you need to have a good quality of sperm and competent fallopian tubes.
Who are Ideal candidates for IUI?
Couples who are unable to get pregnant even after trying for one year and have the following conditions should go for IUI treatment:
- Unexplained infertility is when all the tests come normal and fallopian tubes, ovulation, and semen are normal
- Male factor – Mild male factors contributing to infertility like the problem with sperm count and motility
- Males having difficulty with ejaculation
- Condition when you need a donor sperm like in the couples where the male has minimum or low sperm count, genetic disorders and women who want to be single mothers
- IUI pregnancy is ideal for the women having a problem with ovulation
How effective is IUI?
IUI is a simple and cost-effective procedure. However, the timing of the procedure should be well-timed to get the maximum benefit. So when looking for the best IVF doctor in Hyderabad, always pick the one who has access to the laboratory and has good knowledge and experience in the field.
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