Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the treatment in which sperm of male partner is induced in the women’s uterus for fertilization. This treatment improves the chances of the fertilization even in case of low sperm count.
It is the safe and less invasive method that gives head start to the sperm to reach and fertilizes the egg. This procedure is used in case of male infertility due to low sperm count or decreased sperm mobility.
What is Procedure?
IUI procedure is performed on both men and women for facilitate the pregnancy.
If the women are not using the fertility drugs then normally this procedure is performed between day 12 and 16 of the menstrual cycle counted from the first day of period. For the evaluation of ovulation blood test and urine tests are done.
If the patient is coping with the infertility issues and taking fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation then vaginal ultrasound is done to examine the development of eggs. At the time of maturity of the egg, patient is given hormone injection for the egg release.
After the 36-40 hours of the egg release sperm is inserted. Best quality sperm is selected and inserted by the speculum inserted into vagina to keep vagina walls apart and then with small catheter which is treaded into the womb via cervix the selected sperm is induced.
It is simple and painless procedure takes only few minutes. Sometimes women experience the temporary cramping like the menstrual but soon it gets vanish.
For the procedure there is also great role of men as on the day of sperm insertion males are asked to produce the sperm sample. Then the provided sample of sperm is washed to remove the surrounding fluid. This process separates the rapidly moving sperm from the slower ones.
Rapidly moving sperm are placed in the small catheter to be inserted in the uterus. Even the procedure can be done with the frozen sperm or donor sperms.