Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is like the umbrella of fertility treatments; it's the first thing you reach for on a rainy day, and it forms just the right shield against bad weather. Often recommended as a first-step fertility solution for couples struggling to conceive, the treatment offers several advantages over traditional insemination.
IUI is a fertility treatment that attempts to unite the sperm and the egg by injecting concentrated motile sperm directly into the uterus. The procedure is done through careful monitoring and is timed to coincide with ovulation. IUI is helpful in cases where the male partner has been diagnosed with a low sperm reserve, or the female partner suffers from endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or ovulatory dysfunction.
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IUI cuts down the distance that sperm have to travel to reach the egg, boosting the odds of successful penetration and fertilisation.
IUI is advantageous for men with a low sperm reserve or low sperm motility. By identifying and releasing the best sperm, IUI raises the chances of conception.
Hormonal conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS can hamper ovulation. For women who struggle with ovulatory dysfunction, IUI is a favourable treatment method. The treatment is not usually recommended for women with tubal blockages, as the injected sperm may never reach the egg. Additionally, IUI has evidenced lower success rates in older women and women with poor egg reserves or chronic endometriosis. In cases such as these, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be preferred over IUI.
IUI is a time-honoured procedure that continually incorporates threads from global fertility innovations. It is composed of five main steps.
While IUI can be synced with a woman's natural ovulatory cycle, ovulation is usually stimulated through fertility medication when natural ovulation doesn't follow a predictable pattern.
In the days ahead of ovulation, a semen sample is sourced from the male partner. Typically, sexual abstinence of about two to four days preceding the sample collection is recommended. This is to augment the quality and count of the sperm.
After the sample collection, the semen is cured. This routine involves sieving sperm out from the seminal fluid.
IUI is normally performed on the day of ovulation. The vagina is cleansed with the aid of a beak-shaped device known as a speculum.
A processed sample containing only high-quality, motile sperm is injected into the uterine cavity, through a lightweight tube known as a catheter.
IUI is more than an insemination protocol on Cloudnine. In many cases, it is paired with complementary technologies to create custom-made treatment plans geared towards elevated outcomes. From surgical sperm retrieval to ovulatory control, IUI can be tailored to fit a variety of needs. On Cloudnine, our IUI success rates are among the best in the country, a nod to the personalised approach that underpins every fertility journey.
IUI is economical, result-oriented and painless, and is an ideal stepping stone on the journey to conception. If you're braving harsh weather on your way to growing your family, perhaps it's time you grabbed an umbrella on Cloudnine.
Must Read: ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS DURING IUI TREATMENT