Intrauterine insemination is a less expensive, less invasive form of assisted reproduction compared to IVF. The IUI procedure provides some help with the conception process while still allowing nature to play a role.
IUI involves retrieving sperm from the male partner and inserting it into the female partner’s uterus, timed to her ovulation. The sperm still need to make their own way to the fallopian tube to meet the egg and fertilise it, but the insemination procedure gives them a head start.
Because IUI is relatively simple and does not involve egg collection or laboratory fertilisation, it is often considered an early fertility treatment option for suitable patients. For many people, it can offer an effective pathway to pregnancy before considering more advanced fertility treatments.
IUI is a procedure with less intervention compared to IVF, therefore often a simpler process. While every patient’s treatment plan is personalised, most IUI cycles follow a similar series of steps designed to maximise the chances of sperm and egg meeting at the right time.
For the sperm to successfully meet with the egg, we need to carefully time ovulation. Depending on your personal circumstances, we can track your natural cycle through ultrasound and blood tests, or we can use hormone medications to encourage ovulation at a particular time.
Monitoring allows your fertility specialist to identify when an egg is developing and when it is likely to be released. In some cases, a trigger injection may be used to help precisely time ovulation, making it easier to schedule the insemination procedure.
Accurate timing is one of the most important factors in an IUI cycle. By ensuring the sperm are placed into the uterus shortly before or around the time of ovulation, we can improve the opportunity for fertilisation to occur naturally within the fallopian tube.
On the day of ovulation, the male partner collects a semen sample in a private room at the Genea clinic. This sample then undergoes washing and preparation to produce a small volume of highly concentrated healthy sperm.
The preparation process removes seminal fluid, debris and less active sperm, helping to select the strongest and most motile sperm for insemination. This step is important because it increases the number of high-quality sperm available to travel towards the egg.
If donor sperm is being used, the sample will be thawed and prepared in the laboratory before the procedure.
Once the semen sample has been prepared, we perform the insemination procedure. Using a long, thin catheter, the sperm are gently passed through the cervix and released into the uterus. It’s now their job to swim to the egg and fertilise it.
The procedure itself is usually quick and takes only a few minutes. Most women describe it as similar to a cervical screening test, with little or no discomfort. Anaesthetic is not required, and patients are generally able to return to their normal activities straight afterwards.
Around two weeks later, a pregnancy test can determine whether the treatment has been successful.
Although sperm are given a helping hand through the insemination step, successful fertilisation still depends on their ability to swim and penetrate the egg. Our investigations, particularly male fertility tests, will identify whether IUI is a suitable solution for you or if your chances of success would be significantly higher with IVF.
Intrauterine insemination can be a good option for:
IUI may also be considered by same-sex female couples or single mothers by choice who are using donor sperm..
More about conceiving with donor sperm →
Not everyone will be a suitable candidate for IUI. Factors such as severe male factor infertility, significantly reduced ovarian reserve, blocked fallopian tubes or advanced maternal age may mean that IVF offers a better chance of pregnancy. A fertility assessment can help determine which treatment is most appropriate for your individual circumstances.
