Patients suffering with low sperm count, decreased sperm motility, unexplained fertility, hostile cervical condition or ejaculation dysfunction can all benefit from an IUI procedure.

IUI is a technique during which the fast moving sperms are separated from the dead and immotile sperms and placed inside the womb (uterus) using a small catheter.

An IUI procedure is performed around the time of ovulation or egg release (28-42 hours after the HCG injection)

• The best quality sperms are selected.
• Sperms don’t have face the harsh vaginal environment.
• Sperms are placed much closer to the egg (oocyte)Because of the above said reasons, IUI has 3 times more chances of pregnancy when compared to natural methods.

SAn abstinence of 2-4 days is required before giving a semen sample for the IUI. The couple are free to have intercourse any number of times before the IUI.

The semen preparation takes about an hour and the injection of sperms into the womb takes only about 5 minutes.

Most women consider IUI to be fairly painless. The discomfort experienced is similar to having a vaginal scan done. There can be some minimal cramping afterwards, but often what is felt is ovulation-related rather than from the IUI.

Once the sperms are pushed into the uterus, they don’t fall out. Occasionally there is wetness after the IUI procedure, but this is related to the catheter loosening the cervical mucus.

Avoid vigorous washing/ douching of the vagina with water.

Implantation (attachment of the embryo to the womb) generally takes place 5-7 days after ovulation/your IUI procedure.

Travel: Any form of travel in bus, auto, bike, car, train, and aeroplane is acceptable after an IUI.

Climb stairs/Exercise/Yoga: You may continue your regular exercise and yoga. Try to avoid vigorous running or exercises that exert more pressure on the abdomen. Brisk walking, cross training, yoga may be continued. Climbing stairs even up 5 floors will not have any impact on the pregnancy.

Intercourse: Having intercourse on the same day and next day of IUI may increase the chances of pregnancy. Subsequently it’s the couple’s personal choice to have intercourse. There is no harm nor benefit of it towards pregnancy.

There are absolutely no diet restrictions. You are free to have your routine diet unless your doctor specifically advices you otherwise.

It is recommend that the you take the pregnancy test 2 weeks after the IUI to give an accurate result.

A urine pregnancy test with early morning sample gives a fairly accurate results. However, to be 100% sure a blood pregnancy test (bhcg) can be done.

Success rates will vary with the couple’s original diagnosis and the number of cycles of IUI. On an average the pregnancy rate per cycle of insemination is 15-20%.

Based on the success rates from the previous cycle it is safe to say that if you don’t get pregnant after 4 cycles of IUI, you should consider re-evaluating the associated problems and move on to better treatment modalities.

Women with both tubes blocked can’t benefit from an IUI as the path connecting the sperms in the womb and the egg is blocked.

If the male partners sperm count is very poor or if there are no sperms (azospermia), then a donor semen sample maybe injected into the womb only after discussing and with the consent of the couple.