
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
What is IUI?
Intrauterine Insemination or IUI is a procedure for treating infertility where sperm is placed directly into a woman’s uterus. At first, the sperm is washed and concentrated, then it is placed in the woman’s uterus around the time when the woman’s ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. This is done to increase the chances of pregnancy in some couples who have not been able to get pregnant through natural conception.
Why is IUI done?
IUI is done in couples who may have:
- Endometriosis Related Infertility: The first treatment approach for endometriosis-related infertility is using medication to obtain a good quality egg along with the process of IUI.
- Donor Sperm: IUI is commonly used in women who need to use donor sperm to get pregnant.
- Unexplained Infertility: In cases of unexplained infertility, IUI is performed as the first treatment approach along with ovulation-inducing medicines.
- Cervical Factor Infertility: If the cervical mucus found in the cervix present at the lower end of the uterus is too thick, it can impede the sperm from reaching the egg. In such a case, IUI is used to deposit the sperm directly into the woman’s uterus.
- Subfertility: IUI is used to overcome problems related to sperm such as low production, low motility, or abnormal shape/structure.
- Ovulatory Factor Infertility: IUI is also performed for those women who may have infertility due to anovulation, improper ovulation, or a reduced number of eggs.
- Semen Allergy: Very rarely, women may have an allergy to proteins in their partner’s semen and though a condom can protect you from the symptoms, it can also prevent pregnancy. IUI can be effective if your sensitivity is severe as many proteins in semen can be removed before the sperm is inserted.
What is the success rate of IUI?
Each couple has a different response to IUI. The success rate of IUI varies depending on the reason for needing fertility treatment. As women age, the success rates for IUI reduce especially in women above the age of 40 and those whose two or more previous cycles of IUI have not been successful.
What are the risks of IUI?
IUI is a relatively safe procedure with a low risk of serious complications. Some of the risks of IUI include:
- Vaginal Bleeding: Sometimes, during the process of IUI, placing the catheter in the uterus causes small amounts of vaginal bleeding. This however does not affect the chances of pregnancy.
- Infection: The risk of developing an infection, although low, is there as a result of the IUI procedure.
- Multiple Pregnancy: IUI when coordinated with ovulation-inducing medications increases the risk of multiple pregnancies.
What is the cost of IUI?
The IUI cost in Lucknow can vary depending on your specific needs. The IUI cost in Lucknow also comes with some additional costs of ultrasounds, lab testing, and semen analysis. To know more about IUI cost in Lucknow, you can visit Urvara Fertility Centre- the best IUI centre in Lucknow.
About Urvara Fertility Clinic
Urvara Fertility Clinic is the best IUI centre in Lucknow led by Dr. Richa Singh, who is a renowned IVF doctor & infertility specialist from Max Hospital, Delhi. The fertility clinic is equipped with the latest cutting edge technology and state of the art infrastructure to cater to all problems relating to infertility. Ever since Urvara Fertility Clinic opened its door for patients, it has emerged as the best IUI centre in Lucknow for providing excellent medical care for IVF and other reproductive disorders at an affordable IUI cost in Lucknow.
FAQs
What is infertility?
Infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive even after a year of trying to get pregnant through unprotected and well-timed sexual intercourse in which the woman is under the age of 35. If the woman is above 35, it is diagnosed after six months of trying to get pregnant. Infertility can be due to male or female factors or even both. It can also be due to unexplained reasons.
Does age affect fertility and chances of conception?
Yes, age does affect a woman’s ability to have children. More and more women now prefer to wait until their 30s to conceive. A woman’s fertility starts to reduce from her 30s and more after the age of 35. As much as one-third of couples who face fertility problems are those where the woman’s age is above 35.
How does age affect a woman’s ability to have children?
Here are a few ways of how a woman’s ability conceive reduces due to her age:
- The ability of ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization reduces with age
- The quality of eggs released reduces with an increase in the age of women
- An increase in age can lead to more health problems which may interfere with a woman’s fertility
- The risk of miscarriages increases as a woman ages
- Children born to older women tend to have more abnormalities
How long should women try to get pregnant before visiting a doctor?
Women who are healthy and below the age of 30 need not worry about infertility unless they have been trying to get pregnant for a year or so. If such is the case, they should talk to their doctor for a fertility evaluation. They should also ask their partners to do the same.
Women in their 30s trying to get pregnant should talk to their doctor after trying for 6 months as a woman’s chances of having a baby decline rapidly after the age of 30.
Is infertility only a woman’s problem?
No, infertility can affect both men and women. About one-third of cases of infertility are due to female factors and another one third are due to male factors. The remaining cases are either due to a mixture of both male and female factors or due to unknown reasons.
Can male infertility be treated?
In most cases, male infertility can be treated. Your doctor may suggest you use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IVF, ICSI, TESA and Micro-TESE. Although ART cannot cure or treat the causes of infertility, it can help couples achieve pregnancy even when the male’s sperm count is low or zero.
What are the risk factors for infertility?
There are several external factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental causes that can lead to infertility. Although some risk factors can be gender-specific, some common risk factors are:
- Age
- Smoking
- Alcohol Consumption
- Substance Abuse
- Obesity and Underweight
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Diabetes
- Tubal Disease
- Stress
- Genetic Causes
What are the ways to treat infertility?
There are many ways to treat infertility for both men and women. With advancing medical technologies, you and your partner along with your doctor can decide depending on the options available.
What causes infertility in women?
The most common reason for infertility in women is problems with ovulation. No ovulation or improper ovulation can prevent eggs from fertilizing or there may be no eggs at all. Irregular periods or no periods are a sign of no or improper ovulation. Some other causes of infertility include:
- Endometriosis
- PCOD/PCOS
- Uterine Fibroids
- Blocked Fallopian Tubes
- Physical problems with the uterus
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Several Miscarriages
- Unexplained Reasons
What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men can be due to the following:
- Low or no sperm production
- Low motility of sperms- sperms inability to move fast or reach the egg to fertilize it
- Abnormal shape/structure of sperms that prevent it from fertilizing the egg
- Erectile Dysfunction or Retrograde Ejaculation
Sometimes, men may be born with these problems, and the other times, they may develop these problems due to an illness or injury.