WHAT IS Intrauterine insemination (IUI)?
Intrauterine Insemination, previously also known as artificial insemination, as the name suggests, is a procedure which involves injecting sperms directly into a woman’s womb or uterus just around the time of release of egg(s) from the ovaries (ovulation). It is a simple OPD procedure and takes around 5 minutes.
How does IUI WORK?
IUI may be done in cases of unexplained infertility, mild to moderate endometriosis, mild to moderate male factor infertility where sperm counts or speed are minimally affected. In an IUI cycle, female partner is given ovulation induction medicines for egg production from second or third day of her periods after a baseline ultrasound scan. Sometimes, your fertility doctor may even give you injections for the same. Woman is then followed up through ultrasound scans, also called follicular monitoring. When one or more eggs reach a size of around 18-21 mm, woman is given a trigger injection for release of eggs from the ovary, scientifically called ovulation. At around 36-40 hours after trigger shot, IUI is done. The timing may even vary according to your doctor’s assessment of probable time of egg rupture. Doing an IUI compared to trying naturally may help in a dual way. Firstly, timing of availability of sperms and egg is closely matched. Secondly, only the best sperms with good capacity of fertilisation, directly reach the uterine cavity. This reduces the distance and time to reach egg, at the same time numbers and quality of sperms present in the cavity are optimised.
How is IUI different from IVF?
In an IVF cycle, doctor gives you daily injections for almost 10 days to produce multiple eggs. The eggs from female are collected outside body, fertilised with a sperm in the embryology lab. Embryos are formed in the lab itself and is then transferred into the uterus of the woman. However in IUI, only selected sperms are injected into the uterus, fertilisation happens inside female’s body. So, for IUI to get successful, we need better sperm quality and open fallopian tubes.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM IUI?
Couples who are not able to achieve pregnancy even after one year of unprotected intercourse and have one of these factors:
- Unexplained infertility: Where all tests like patency of fallopian tubes, ovulation, husband semen examination are normal.
- Mild male factor where there are only minimal problems with sperm counts and motility.
- Males with difficulty in ejaculation.
- Geographical factors where husband and wife are not staying at one place.
- Male partners with frozen sperms because of geographical factors or for fertility preservation.
- Anyone who needs donor sperm, such as couples where male partner has nil or very low sperm counts, genetic diseases running in family, women willing to be single mothers.
- Ovulation problems: Difficulty in producing eggs.
- Unconsummated marriage.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IUI
IUI is a simple office procedure but needs very good andrology lab facilities. It is cheap and cost effective if done at a good infertility center. The timing has to be carefully planned as to get maximum benefits. So, when looking for the Best Fertility Hospital in Jaipur, always choose a center where the facilities of andrology lab and semen preparation are present with availability of a good embryologist.
WORK UP BEFORE IUI
Before planning an IUI, your doctor will ask few tests as to ensure IUI is the right treatment of choice for you. Basic workup may include few hormone tests on second or third day of menstrual cycle, testing for the patency of fallopian tubes with either SSG or HSG. Also, husband sperm sample needs to be tested for sperm counts and motility. To get a proper semen testing, always choose an IVF Clinic in Jaipur where facilities of andrology lab are present and an andrologist / embryologist available. Try to avoid testing in general labs where samples are either transported or tested by lab technicians, not andro technicians. Practice of getting semen preparation at one center and getting IUI procedure at other center should also be discouraged as sperms will get destroyed in transit.
IUI IS NOT AT ALL PAINFUL
As a leading Fertility Hospital in Jaipur, we have a vast experience of IUI and IVF procedures. We assessed the pain score of patients undergoing IUI, as told by our patients themselves and most of the women found it quite simple and easy. Very few women complained of mild discomfort. The pain score depends on both experience of fertility doctor and pain tolerance of the female patient. In rare cases where mouth of uterus is very tight, IUI may get difficult, but generally it is still not very painful.
Cost of IUI IN JAIPUR
Total Cost of an IUI cycle depends on various factors, including the medicines used for ovulation induction, whether one or two IUI are performed in a single cycle. The range of IUI cost is mostly between Rs. 6000 to Rs. 10,000. Overall it is much cheaper than IVF with reasonably good results over 3-4 cycles.
complications or risks with iui
No medicine or procedure can be completely risk free. Overall it is a very safe and easy procedure without any long term risks or side effects. If not monitored carefully, specially in cases where injections are given for IUI, however, a patient can hyperstimulate and there can be a risk of accumulation of extra fluid in body. Because of more number of eggs, sometimes, a patient can also have higher order pregnancy like twins, the chances of which are 5-7 %. If not done with proper aseptic precautions, a woman can have uterus infection. One must therefore, also plan an IUI at a place where success rates of IUI are good and facilities for in house semen preparation are available.
In this respect, VANSH IVF (AN ADVANCED FERTILITY AND WOMEN WELLNESS CENTRE) has emerged as one of the best IVF centre in Jaipur, as patient safety is integral to our treatment plans. Our goal is to help you conceive a healthy baby with absolutely safe infertility treatments. and at last, A baby is worth this much pain
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