Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination, is one of the most commonly used assisted reproductive technologies. IUI is a simple, painless, in-office procedure that is accomplished by first monitoring the patient’s cycle using ovulation predictor kits at home or ultrasound and blood tests in the office. Fertility medications are often used to enhance ovulation.
At the time of ovulation, the carefully prepared semen specimen is gently inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity using a soft catheter. The IUI procedure allows the sperm to be placed in closer proximity to the egg as it descends from the ovary through the fallopian tube.
Why Genetics & IVF Institute for IUI?
The IUI program at GIVF provides several advantages to our patients, including:
- Morning monitoring (sonograms and blood draws) and insemination procedures that are readily available.
- Test results from blood drawn during daily morning monitoring hours that are available the same day.
- An on-site Andrology Laboratory that processes semen samples 7 days a week.
- Access to donor sperm through our on-site sperm bank, Fairfax Cryobank, which provides a large selection of high-quality, fully screened donor sperm.
- If needed, pregnancy loss evaluation with our in-house reproductive genetics team.
If patients are unable to achieve ongoing pregnancies with IUI, GIVF offers other assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and donor egg IVF.
Who Would Benefit From IUI?
Many patients try intrauterine insemination before IVF because it is a relatively simple procedure. However, anyone with unexplained infertility, male-factor infertility, single patients, or LGBTQ+ patients who want to use donor sperm, for example, can all benefit from this very common, low-invasive procedure.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) FAQs
IUI improves pregnancy rates by placing a higher concentration of motile sperm closer to the egg, timed precisely for when the egg should be there.
Yes. Many patients use donor sperm with IUI. Genetics & IVF Institute has an in-house sperm bank, Fairfax Cryobank, which has one of the largest repositories of donor sperm in the world and can provide you with donor sperm in the proper preparation type for IUI.
The virtually painless procedure has very few risks. Some patients report experiencing cramps and/or spotting after IUI. Also, as with almost all medical procedures, there is a rare risk of infection.
