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Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Can Help You Achieve Pregnancy
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an assisted reproductive treatment (ART) that involves placing sperm directly into the uterus to aid fertilization. By reducing the distance sperm travel, this minimally invasive treatment is often more affordable than other alternatives and can significantly increase the chances of becoming pregnant for some patients. At the Fertility Center of San Antonio, our experienced fertility experts can help you determine if IUI is a good option to help you to grow your family.
Why Choose Us?
At the Fertility Center of San Antonio, our long history of providing excellent patient care sets us apart. With 35+ years of experience, our fertility specialists offer a unique combination of specialized fertility expertise, sophisticated tools and techniques, and successful results, that allows us to help hopeful couples achieve their family-building goals. From our caring and compassionate staff to our onsite embryology laboratory, our entire practice is designed to streamline your care and prioritize your comfort. Because we believe everyone deserves the chance to become a parent, we offer a range of financing options to help you afford care. We treat everyone like family and enjoy providing personalized care to help you on every step of your individual path to parenthood.
Schedule an appointment to learn more about IUI and understand your treatment options.
Is IUI Right for You?
IUI is typically recommended for couples who have tried unsuccessfully to conceive for at least a year or women (singles or same-sex female couples) who wish to become pregnant without a male partner. IUI may also be recommended for those with:
- Unexplained infertility
- Mild male factor infertility
- Issues with ovulation
- Mild endometriosis
- Cervical factor infertility
- Women/couples using donor sperm
IUI Basics: How Our Process Works
IUI is a method of artificial insemination that involves placing motile, concentrated sperm directly into the uterus, close to the unfertilized egg.
Testing and Treatment Planning
Because timing is crucial to IUI success, leading up to the procedure, our clinical team will carefully monitor the patient’s menstrual cycle and check hormone levels, as well as evaluate the quantity and quality of female eggs and male sperm. Fertility testing helps pinpoint the cause of infertility, and your doctor will proceed with treatment only when fertility testing indicates you are a good candidate for IUI.
Fertility Medication & Ovarian Stimulation
IUI can be timed to coincide with a woman’s natural menstrual cycle. In some cases, however, the procedure may be combined with fertility medications (such as Clomid®) to increase production of fertile eggs. Some patients may also require a “trigger shot” of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to stimulate the release of mature eggs, which maximizes the chances of success. The trigger shot is typically given when one or more ovarian follicles reach a mature size on a transvaginal ultrasound.
The IUI Procedure
Your visit for this minimally invasive and virtually painless procedure takes about 30 minutes. First, the semen sample will be washed at our onsite andrology and embryology laboratory, to identify and separate the healthy, motile sperm. During the IUI procedure, the patient lies on an exam table with her feet elevated. The concentrated semen will be injected directly into her uterus using a catheter, and she will remain still for 10 minutes. Some patients may experience mild cramping or bloating. After the procedure, the patient can resume normal activity.
Results and Follow Up
At your follow-up appointment, patients receive a blood pregnancy test to determine if the IUI treatment is a success. For patients who do not achieve pregnancy, your fertility specialist will work with you to review your cycle and assess your treatment options.
Success Rates of IUI
Your IUI success rate is impacted by many factors, including your cause of infertility, your age, and how many IUI cycles you choose to undergo. Success rates may be higher for patients under 35 years old, and repetition can increase the chance of achieving pregnancy with this treatment. Patients who have been unsuccessful after multiple IUI attempts may consider treatment alternatives, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
At Fertility Center of San Antonio, we understand that choosing a treatment path can be stressful when you don’t know your personal chances of success. To support our patients with the best technology, we offer every patient a free, personalized Univfy PreIVF Report to help you assess your personal chances of success with different treatment alternatives so that you can make decisions with confidence.
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If you are struggling to grow your family, but are unsure where to start, schedule an appointment with our fertility experts so we can help you understand your treatment options.
