Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure that promises to bring the sperm and the egg closer together than would typically be possible in natural circumstances. It is a process in which concentrated motile sperm collected from the male partner are injected directly into the female partner's uterus. By timing the procedure to coincide with ovulation, IUI attempts to bring the sperm and the egg near each other, resulting in a potential union. IUI is a favourable treatment, especially in cases where the male partner has been diagnosed with low sperm reserves, or the female partner suffers from endometriosis or ovulatory dysfunction.
IS INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION RIGHT FOR ME?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an effective treatment for many couples, provided certain prerequisites are fulfilled. For instance, the treatment is not normally advisable for women with blocked fallopian tubes, as the injected sperm may never reach the egg in such cases. Additionally, IUI may not prove fruitful for older women and women with poor egg reserves or severe endometriosis. In complex cases like these, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be favoured over IUI.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS OF INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION?
- Ovulation Stimulation. Although IUI can be timed with a woman's natural ovulatory cycle, ovulation is usually induced through medication when the natural ovulatory pattern is askew..
- Semen Procurement. On the run up to ovulation, a semen sample is procured from the male partner. To optimise the quality of the semen, sexual abstinence of about two to four days, preceding the sample collection, is recommended..
- Sperm Procurement. After we have collected the semen sample, our fertility crew expertly processes the semen in a laboratory. This routine involves separating the sperm from other components of the seminal fluid to augment its composition and density..
- Cervical Cleansing. As an ovarian follicle nears maturity, the stage is almost set for the IUI procedure. IUI is usually performed on the day of ovulation after the vagina is lightly cleansed with the aid of a beak-shaped device known as a speculum..
- INSEMINATION. The final step in the series of procedures leading up to IUI is the insemination itself. Here, a processed sample containing only superior quality, motile sperm is inserted into the uterine cavity, through a fine, lightweight tube, called a catheter.
