IUI - Intra Uterine Insemination

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) technique is known as one of the options of treating infertility problems in couples. It is a simple procedure that involves the delivery of sperm from the husband into the uterus. Obstetricians and gynecologists use such procedures in certain cases to help fertilize the eggs. It is one of the techniques that are not inexpensive and do not require significant surgical or medical intervention.

The duration of intrauterine insemination (IUI) is approximately "3-4 days".

The success of sperm injection in the sperm depends on the severity and injury of women with endometrial migration, according to statistics conducted on such cases. And that the rate of success decreases by increasing the severity of the disease, and that there is a small decline in the rate of success if the disease is the average compared to this procedure for women who did not know the cause of infertility. The rate is much lower when the disease is more widespread. 

Some couples may go for intrauterine insemination because of one of the following:

• Infertility for unknown causes.
• Cervical problems such as abnormal mucus in the cervix.
• Ejaculation weakness in the husband.
• Scar tissue in the cervix impedes sperm from reaching the uterus.
• Sperm weakness or low count.
• Endometriosis.

The wife undergoes some previous tests to start the steps of intrauterine insemination, which includes one of the following:

• Home urine test for Luteinizing hormone (LH) level
• Ovarian and eggs detection by trans-vaginal ultrasound.

Intrauterine insemination is a safe technique, low-risk techniques and complications, but they may involve the following:

• High percentage of multiple pregnancies with twins.
• Infection.
• Mild bleeding due to the tool entrance through the vagina.

IUI consists of the following steps:

1. Apply a speculum, and wash the vagina and cervix with a saline solution in a very gentle way to avoid any unwanted scratches or discharge.
2. Connect the sample of the husband's semen, which was processed in the laboratory, to the catheter or needle that will be inserted through the cervix.
3. Inserting the needle through the uterus opening and emptying the contents of sperm sample, this process takes 30 seconds to a minute at most.
4. Remove the speculum, and allow the wife to rest and lie down for about 15 minutes.

It is noteworthy that the semen sample is processed in the laboratory first by washing and extracting a quantity of it in a process that takes 2 to 4 hours.

After IUI, the wife is often advised to have a pregnancy test approximately two weeks after intrauterine injections IUI. Any symptoms of pregnancy after intrauterine insemination will not appear clearly before that, usually a home pregnancy test or blood test may be performed for greater accuracy.

The success rate of intrauterine insemination increases if repeated for three consecutive cycles, as one of the reasons for the failure of intrauterine insemination rely on the use of this technique only once.