Intrauterine Insemination
IUI
With two healthy and fertile partners, approximately 200 million sperm are ejaculated into the vagina. But, as this journey continues, that number plummets into the thousands. Of those original 200 million, only around 1 million make it all the way through the cervix into the uterus. From that 1 million, only 10k survive to the top of the uterus. The remainder are absorbed by white blood cells or die off. From the 10,000 sperm cells that make it to the top, only about 1,000 enter the fallopian tube carrying the egg. With this, there is only about a 20% chance of conception each month even with the best of circumstances.
IUI is typically the first step after being unable to get pregnant via intercourse. With an IUI, millions of sperm are automatically placed at the top of the uterus. This optimizes the “meeting” of the sperm and egg. This means that there is a higher chance of conception and live birth.
The exact process of an IUI treatment cycle is largely determined by two decisions: which (if any) drugs are used and whether or not office monitoring is done. Oral pills, like clomid and letrozole, are easy to get at the pharmacy, but the trigger shot may require a specialty pharmacy. All IUI processes follow the same general biological and procedural stages.
Call Generation Next Fertility on the first day of your period.
The first phase of an IUI is the development of your eggs, follicles, and uterine lining. This can be done with or without medications but is most often done with medications to help egg development and the increase of conception.
Medications often begin on days 2-4 of your cycle after your consultation.
Blood and ultrasound monitoring will accompany this part of the cycle to help us determine the follicular and lining growth.
An IUI is performed as close to your ovulation day as possible. This is best done with ultrasound and blood tests to measure luteinizing hormone followed by a trigger shot.
If anovulatory, it would be necessary to take a trigger shot. Alternatively, the timing of your ovulation can be measured (though not as accurately) with an ovulation predictor kit.
Your IUI procedure will be scheduled 12-36 hours after your trigger injection or positive test on your ovulation predictor kit.
Sperm Preparation
and the Insemination
During the procedure, the catheter (loaded with concentrated sperm) with be slid past the cervix and into the uterus. The sperm is then injected into the uterine cavity and the catheter is removed. This procedure only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require any type of anesthesia. Usually, the procedure does not result in much discomfort, however, some mild cramping can be expected.
Like most other procedures, IUIs do come with some risks.
Fortunately, with the proper care from our incredible staff, these risks can be reduced.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OVHSS) is a response to excess hormones-based medications. It will usually occur in women taking injectable hormone medications to stimulate the development of eggs in the ovaries but it could happen with oral medications as well. This syndrome can cause ovarian swelling, nausea, and can lead to more serious risks. That said, OVHSS, especially a serious case of ovarian hyperstimulation is incredibly rare with IUI. At Generation Next Fertility, we do everything in our power to help mitigate the risk.
When doing a medicated IUI cycle, there is a chance that the body develops and ovulates multiple mature eggs. Because all the mature eggs have the potential for fertilization, there is a risk for twin or even higher order pregnancies. The risk of both a multiple gestation and a cancelled or converted cycle can be largely reduced by the use appropriately dosed oral medications, especially for younger women, those with high AMHs, and those with PCOS.
Generation Next Fertility
115 East 57th St, Floor 11
Manhattan, NY 10022
Westchester Location
280 North Central Ave, Suite 303
Hartsdale, NY 10530
Monday-Friday
7:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday
8:30am – 3:00pm
Sundays & Holiday Hours
By Appointment only
(By Appointment Only)
Monday-Friday
6:45am – 12:00pm
Saturday
7:30am – 11:30am
Sundays & Holidays – By Appt
Westchester Location
MWF: 7:00am – 9:00am
