IUI and IVF are two types of artificial fertility treatments to help you get pregnant when nature isn’t doing the trick on its own. During IUI, sperm is injected directly into your uterus. IVF is a multi-step reproductive technology that involves egg stimulation, retrieval, lab fertilisation, and transfer.
Why intrauterine insemination is used
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilisation. The goal of IUI is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and subsequently increase the chance of fertilisation.
How Many Sperm are needed for IUI?
After washing, there should be at least five million motile sperm for the IUI to be successful. After washing, samples containing one to five million motile cells had considerably reduced success rates.
Is intrauterine insemination painful?
IUI is minimally invasive, and patients do not even require pain medication or anesthesia during treatment. Patients may experience a slight pinching experience (similar to that experienced during a routine pap smear) and a little cramping as the catheter is passed through the cervix.
How long does it take sperm to reach the egg after IUI?
Once the sperm enters the reproductive system, it can take about 30 to 45 minutes to reach the egg. For this, it is important to have a healthy sperm that has the right kind of motility to reach the egg and fertilise it. Once inside the body of a woman, healthy sperm can live up to two to five days.
How do you prepare for intrauterine insemination?
Do not ejaculate for at least three days prior. The healthier sperm are available to meet the egg, the higher your chances of IUI success. If your partner is submitting his sperm sample, it is recommended to avoid ejaculation for at least three days (but no more than five days) before the sample day.