IUI involves the injection of treated sperm from the husband, partner or donor into the woman’s uterine cavity via the cervix.
The sperm is treated with special media & centrifugation done to a better concentration of healthy and motile sperms & to exclude some unnecessary & harmful components. It is generally a painless procedure which takes only a few minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis. The chances of success are increased if the insemination is combined with ovulation induction using small doses of fertility drugs (10 to 20% per cycle).
The development of the ovarian follicles is monitored with ultrasound and the insemination is timed to take place 36-40 hours after administration of the hormone injection hCG, which triggers ovulation. The male partner is asked to produce a semen sample. This sample is prepared in the laboratory, and is then placed in the uterine cavity by means of a fine catheter.
IUI should be performed in cases where the woman has healthy fallopian tubes and the sperm preparation is satisfactory.
Donor insemination is the treatment used for women whose partners have no sperm in the ejaculate, or for couples who do not wish to undergo the ICSI procedure.
IUI can be done in a natural cycle. However , to get better results, it is usually preceded by ovulation induction.
The classical steps of IUI
Ovulation Induction (COI)
To encourage one to three eggs to mature, usually Gonadrotropins are injected to stimulate the growth of follicles & cause ovulation at a predicted time.
Monitoring of treatment
Is done to measure the growth of follicles individualise drug doses & prevent side-effect. Usually , folliculometry is done by transvaginal ultrasound scanning (2 to 3times or more during a treatment cycle ) & sometimes by measuring hormones(E2) in a blood sample
3 Sperm sample
Provided on the day of ovulation & is prepared in the laborotary.
Insemination
Done by he disposable catheter. The procedure is simple & not painful. It may be done on 2 consecutive days around predicated time of ovulation.
Pregnancy testing
By urinary pregnancy test or blood test after 14 to 16 days of ovulation.
