Intrauterine insemination involves placing a concentrated sperm sample into the uterus. This helps in cases where there is a moderately low sperm count or for cases of “unexplained infertility.” With normal intercourse, most sperm will die in the vagina. IUI preserves most of the viable sperm and gives them a head start on their journey to find the egg. IUI is timed with ovulation. To determine the best time for an IUI, some patients use home ovulation predictor kits while others use ultrasound monitoring and we “trigger” ovulation with an injection.
When we feel confident that ovulation is occurring, we prepare a sperm sample and advance it through a thin catheter that is passed through the cervix into the uterus. The concentrated sperm sample is then inserted and given a gentle assist to reach the egg and achieve fertilization. This procedure is usually painless and you can resume your normal activities straight away.
Different medications may be used with IUI, most commonly pills for ovulation induction. Some patients may benefit from injectable medications and progesterone supplements as well.
