IUI can be a good option for couples where the male partner has a slightly low sperm count or poor sperm motility, or for single or gay women where there is no male partner. The treatment can be performed in two ways at our clinic: in a natural cycle without fertility medicines or in a stimulated cycle with fertility drugs. You can opt for IUI using your partner’s sperm or donor sperm.
Who’s it for
You might want to use IUI if…
You’ve experienced unexplained fertility
You have mild endometriosis but open fallopian tubes
You have mild male factor infertility
You have cervical hostility
You struggle with full penetrative intercourse
You’re in a same sex female relationship using donor sperm
The success rate with IUI treatment depends on you and your partner’s fertility status and your age. Most couples who opt for IUI have a 5 to 20 per cent chance of becoming pregnant with each attempt, so it’s not uncommon for multiple IUI cycles to be attempted.
We put every patient on the best possible treatment plan with the highest chance of success. That process starts with our thoughtful and thorough screening, which is focused on understanding you and your partner’s fertility health. We’ll then advise you on any pre-treatment preparations depending on the results, such as aHyCoSy investigation to check your fallopian tubes.
Step 2: Natural, modified natural or stimulated
The next step in the process will depend on what route you decide to take:
In natural IUI you’ll use a home testing kit to check for ovulation. Once the kit indicates you’re ovulating, we’ll confirm this with an ultrasound scan and then perform the IUI.
In modified natural, we’ll monitor the development of follicles and uterus lining by ultrasound. When you’re ready, we’ll administer an injection to trigger ovulation before performing the IUI.
In a stimulated cycle, provided an initial scan shows your ovaries are clear, we’ll ask you to start some tablet to induce follicle growth. We’ll monitor the development of follicles and uterus lining by ultrasound. When you’re ready, we’ll administer an injection to trigger ovulation before performing the IUI.
Step 3: Preparing the sperm
If you’re using your partner’s sperm, it will be washed and prepared in the laboratory. During this process we’ll separate the fast-moving sperm from the slow or non-moving sperm, so only the best are used for insemination. If you’re using donor sperm, it will already be stored and ready to use at our clinic.
Step 4: Insemination
We’ll place the sperm directly into your uterus. This reduces the chance of the sperm being destroyed by vaginal acidity and cervical hostility, and reduces the distance the sperm have to travel to meet the egg in the fallopian tube. The procedure is relatively painless and is performed in just a few minutes.
