IUI - Intra Uterine Insemination
One in every six couples worldwide have difficulty in conceiving during the first 12 months of unprotected intercourse. One of the treatment optionsavailable to help couple to become parents isintrauterine insemination (IUI).
Intra Uterine Insemination or Artificial Inseminationusing husband’s sperm (AIH), or Artificial Inseminationusing donar’ssperm (AID)is aprocess where thesperm is separatedand is deposited close to the woman’s womb at the time of ovulation. However this can’t be taken as a standard protocol before going for IVF cycles as IUI and IVF are two independent procedures for different medical conditions of the couple.
IUI procedure is generally effective during, Mild male factor challenges (Sperm shape, count, movement & ejaculation), donor sperm pregnancy, same sex female couples or by women who don’t have a partner, Mild endometriosis, Mucus hostility, retrograde ejaculation, unexplained infertility and any Physical problems in sexual intercourse.
IUI procedure is generally not effective during, blocked or damaged fallopian tube, ovarian failure, severe male factor infertility and age over 40 in women
The Protocol:
Step-1: Stimulation: Treatment is given for development of one or more mature follicles
Step 2: Control: Ultrasound scans and blood tests are being done periodically to monitor and determine the follicle growth
Step 3: Egg Release: OI cycles are followed by administration of HCG injection to induce ovulation
Step 4: Semen Collection: Semen sample is collected from the male partner who abstained from intercourse/ejaculation for a week
Step 5: Sperm Selection: The semen washes as per established lab procedures and morphologically suitable and selected sperm are selected for insemination
Step 6: Procedure: Couple are subject to certain investigations, medications and scansdonetoassess the time of ovulation to fix time for IUI procedure. The washed sperm drawn into a syringe with a tiny catheter attached is passed through the cervix and then the sperm injected into the uterus.
IUI: IUI is a fertility treatment where sperms are placed directly into a women’s Uterus.
During natural conception sperm have to travel from the vagina throuh the cervix, into the uterus and up to fallopian tubes with IUI, sperm are washed and concentrate and also placed directly into the uterus which puts then closer to the egg.
Indication of iui:
IUI can be done using male partner sperm ( or donor sperm), most commonly used folowing senario
Mild endometriosis
Sexual dis functions
Issues with cervix or cervicalmucus
Boaderline male factor
IUI will not help-women with severe endometriosis
Women who have had both fallpion tubes removed or blocked.
Women with multiple pelvic injection
Azoospermia (only donor sperm will be udeful)
How are sperm collected ?
Most commonly ,the man masturabates into a sterile plastic container that in protected for the declares office.sperm can also collected during see in a special condom that the doctor provides.
If the man has retrograde ejaculation,the sperm can be retrived in the laboratory from urine he has collected.
Male with spinal cord injury may be able to produce seman sample by using vibratory stimulation or electroejeculation.
How in IUI done :
Once collected,the seman sample in then washed in the laboratory to concentrate the sperm and remove the seminal fluid(seminal fluid can cause seviour cramping in the women.This process can take 30min. to complete.
IUI procedure is realtively simple and only takes a few minutes once the seman sample is ready.The women lies on an examining table and the clinician insert a speculerm into her vagina.catheter is inserted throuh the seman sample is slowly injected.Usually this procedure is painless but some women have mild cramps bed rest may not needed.
What are the risks ?
There is small risk of infection following IUI procedure.
If ovulation induction medication are used,there is a risk of multiple pregnancy.
Sometimes the ovaries over respond to fertility medications and a condition called ovarian hypenstimulation syndrome may result.
A large no of egge may be matured at once and possibly realeased.
What is the success rate of IUI:
Success depends on following factores:
Age, years of marriage.
Other underline fertility concens.
Wtheather fertility drugs used.
Success rate is 10-15 % per cycle.
Causes of cramps after IUI:
Cramping after IUI usually happens as the catheter is being passed through the cervix. This cramp is short lived, it showed go away as soon as the doctor removes the cathete.
Some women experience cramping after IUI,the catheter sometimes irritate the uterus.
Ovulation can cause abdominal cramping.if you are ovulating multiple follicles,they pain may women worser.