Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination with washed semen, abbreviated IUI, is a technique that places prepared sperm directly into the uterus using a catheter. During intercourse, sperm are placed in the vagina, travel through the cervical mucus into the uterus and then into the fallopian tubes where conception occurs. IUI bypasses the vagina and cervix where many sperm are otherwise lost, thus the number of motile sperm available to fertilize an egg should be greatly increased. To prepare sperm for IUI, a semen sample is obtained. The semen, or liquid part of the sample, is separated from the sperm. During this process, the sperm are “washed” and re-suspended in a specially prepared solution. This process concentrates the sperm and also removes irritants to the uterus contained in semen, making intrauterine insemination safer and more comfortable than it would be with unprocessed sperm.
Who can intrauterine insemination benefit?
- Low sperm count
- Decreased sperm mobility
- Unexplained infertility
- Hostile cervical condition
- Ejaculation dysfunction
Success rates will vary with the couple’s original diagnosis and the number of cycles of IUI. The pregnancy rate per cycle of insemination is 15-20%. The pregnancy rate may be as high as 30-50% in couples undergoing three cycles.
The use of fertility medication, such as Clomid, Tamoxifen, or injectable gonadotropins, increases the chance of pregnancy. The pregnancy rate using Clomid/Tamoxifen/Letrozole is about 10-15%, and that of injectables/IUI is about 15-18%, but these rates are age-dependent and are significantly lower in women > 35. The multiple pregnancy rate is about 5% with oral medications (mostly twins), but increases to about 20-25% with injectable gonadotropins (some may be higher-order multiples, i.e triplets or more).
For injection instructions please check:
www.ferringfertility.com/medications/trainingguide/menopur.asp
Cost Of Intrauterine Insemination
Prices (includes all monitoring and blood tests):
1. Clomid/IUI or Tamoxifen/IUI: $1,350
2. Injectable/IUI: $2,250
Above prices do NOT include the cost of medications. All prices are subject to change without notice.
