Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

In IUI, warmed prepared sperm is inserted with a very thin, flexible catheter into the woman's uterus at around the time of ovulation. Depending on your particular fertility problem you may or may not be advised to use fertility drugs alongside the IUI treatment. When fertility drugs are used it is called stimulated cycle and without drugs it is called a natural cycle.

During a stimulated cycle, you'll probably be given fertility drugs in the form of an injection and nasal spray. You'll start taking the drug near the beginning of your menstrual cycle to stimulate your ovaries to develop several mature eggs for fertilisation. Ultrasound will be used to detect ovulation and make sure that insemination is carried out at the optimum time. You may ovulate naturally, or be given an injection of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).

Requirement for IUI

A woman must have a normal ovulation cycle, open fallopian tubes and a normal uterine cavity in order to undergo artificial insemination. A man must have a relatively normal sperm count, as well as normal sperm mobility and sperm morphology.

Success Rate

Success rate ranges from just under 6% to as high as 26% per cycle. The lower percentage reflects the IUI pregnancy success rate when one follicle is used and the higher percentage reflects the IUI pregnancy success rate when multiple follicles are used. Usually no more than 3 to 4 follicles are used in order to decrease the risk of multiple births. Women usually have higher chance getting pregnant with IUI if the assisted reproductive technology procedure is used in conjunction with fertility drugs.