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Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) — a type of artificial insemination — is a procedure for treating infertility. IUI places sperm directly in to the uterus in the hope that it swims to meet and fertilize an egg in the fallopian tube.

Sperm that have been prepared (washed and concentrated) in the lab are placed directly in the uterus, via a thin catheter, just prior to ovulation.

IUI is a simple procedure similar to a pap smear and should be painless.

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Intrauterine insemination is offered in the following situations

  • Couples who experience difficulties having sexual intercourse: This may be due to female factors (severe vaginismus) or male factors (erectile dysfunction).
  • Unexplained infertility: IUI can be offered as a first treatment for unexplained infertility along with ovulation-inducing medications.
  • Mild male factor infertility (Subfertility). Your partner’s semen analysis, one of the first steps in the medical assessment of infertility, may show below-average sperm concentration, weak movement (motility) of sperm, or abnormalities in sperm size and shape (morphology). IUI can overcome some of these problems because preparing sperm for the procedure helps separate highly motile, normal sperm from those of lower quality
  • Donor sperm : For single women, same sex female couples or gender diverse couples who need to use donor sperm to get pregnant, IUI is most commonly used to achieve pregnancy. Please be aware that a donor program is not currently available at Oasis Fertility Centre.

Intrauterine insemination is a relatively simple and safe procedure, and the risk of serious complications is low. The important risk include:

  • Multiple pregnancy. IUI itself isn’t associated with an increased risk of a multiple pregnancy — twins, triplets or more. But, when coordinated with ovulation-inducing medications, the risk of a multiple pregnancy increases significantly. A multiple pregnancy has higher risks than a single pregnancy does, including early labor and low birth weight.

Intrauterine insemination involves careful coordination before the actual procedure:

  • Preparing the semen sample. Your partner’s semen sample will be washed in a way that separates the highly active, normal sperm from lower quality sperm and other elements. The likelihood of achieving pregnancy increases by using a small, highly concentrated sample of healthy sperm.
  • Monitoring for ovulation. Because the timing of IUI is crucial, monitoring for signs of impending ovulation is critical. The timing of ovulation is identifies with serial ultrasound scans and blood tests. You also may be given an injection to make you ovulate one (or max two eggs )at the right time.
  • Insemination of the semen sample: At the optimum time, concentrated semen sample prepared by the embryologist, is inseminated by the doctor to you.