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Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): An Introduction

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI,) also known as donor insemination, artificial insemination or alternative insemination is a procedure for treating infertility. In the Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment the sperms are placed into the uterus of a woman. This particular treatment is undertaken by a couple facing difficulty to get pregnant.

During the natural conception, sperm is supposed to travel from the vagina through the cervix, into the uterus, and up to the fallopian tubes. With the Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), sperms that have been washed and concentrated are placed directly into the uterus, which puts them closer to the eggs and increases the likelihood of pregnancy in certain women. 

Who does IUI help?

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is most commonly used by the couples who have:

• Unexplained infertility: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) along with ovulation-inducing medications is oftentimes performed as the first treatment for couples suffering from unexplained infertility.

• Donor sperm: IUI is the most commonly used treatment to achieve pregnancy for the women who need to use donor sperm to get pregnant. Frozen donor sperm specimens are obtained from the licensed and certified labs and then these sperm are thawed before going through the IUI procedure.

• Endometriosis-related infertility: For endometriosis-related infertility, medications are used to obtain a good-quality egg, and also IUI treatment is performed to increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant.

• Mid-male factor infertility (subfertility): The semen analysis of a male partner, the first medical step for assessing infertility, might show below-average sperm concentration, abnormal size of the sperm, or weak motility of the sperm. It is the Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) that can help overcome these problems because the preparation of sperm for the procedure helps separate highly motile, normal sperm from the lower quality sperm.

• Ovulatory factor infertility: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is proven to be an effective treatment for women who have infertility caused due to problems with ovulation, including a reduced number of eggs or absence of ovulation.

• Cervical factor infertility: It is the cervix placed at the lower end of the uterus that provides the opening between the vagina and uterus of the woman. An ideal environment for sperm to travel from the vagina to the fallopian tubes is provided by the mucus which is produced by the cervix around the time of ovulation. But, too thick mucus may impede the journey of the sperm. Also, the cervix itself might prevent sperm to travel to the egg. Scarring caused by biopsy or other medical procedures can also thicken the cervix. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) bypasses the cervix, depositing sperm directly into the uterus of a woman and thus, increasing the availability of the number of sperm to meet the awaiting egg. 

• Semen allergy: Another reason for infertility is the allergy to the proteins in semen. Although it is a rare case, allergic semen can result in infertility. Ejaculation into the vagina can cause swelling, redness, and burning in the area which is contacted by allergic semen. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) can be effective in case the sensitivity is severe since proteins in semen are removed in a large number before inserting the sperm.

Risks of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Although Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a relatively simple and safe infertility treatment, there are some risks associated with the procedure but the risk of serious complications is much lower. Here mentioned are some risks of IUI:

• Infection: there is a slight risk of developing an infection during or after the Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) procedure.

• Spotting: In some cases, the process of placing a catheter in the uterus might cause vaginal bleeding in a small amount. But this does not affect the chance of one being pregnant.

• Multiple pregnancies: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) itself is not associated with the risk of multiple pregnancies like twins or triplets. It is the coordination of the treatment with ovulation-inducing medications that might increase the risk of multiple pregnancies. Multiple pregnancies are riskier than single pregnancy causing early labor and low weight of the newborn baby.

The success rate of IUI

The success rate of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) varies from couple to couple. The number of factors that affects the success rate of IUI is as follows:

• Age of both male and female

• Underlying infertility diagnosis

• Intake of fertility drugs 

• Other underlying fertility concerns

Pregnancy rates following Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) vary based on the reasons why couples need fertility treatment. The success rates of IUI treatment tend to decrease in the women aged more than 40 years and also in women who have gotten pregnant after going through three cycles of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) procedure.

Conclusion 

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is an artificial insemination procedure conducted to treat infertility. It is considered a relatively simple and low-risk treatment option for couples or women who are trying to conceive for a long. Couples suffering from unexplained infertility, sperm allergy, cervical factor infertility, ovulatory factor infertility, mid-male factor infertility, etc are recommended to undergo Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment. Consultation with a certified IUI professional helps one in determining the best course to achieve a successful pregnancy.