IUI Fertility Treatment
Initial evaluation:
Before starting IUI Fertility Treatment, you and your partner will undergo a thorough evaluation, including a medical history review, physical examinations, and fertility tests. These tests may include blood work, hormone level checks, and a semen analysis.
Ovulation induction:
You may be prescribed fertility drugs to stimulate the development of multiple eggs in your ovaries. Monitoring through ultrasounds and blood tests helps determine the optimal time for the IUI procedure.
Sperm preparation:
On the day of the IUI Fertility Treatment, the male partner will provide a semen sample. The sperm is then washed and processed in the laboratory to separate the healthy, motile sperm from the seminal fluid. This can be increases the chances of pregnancy.
Insemination:
During the IUI Fertility Treatment procedure, a speculum is inserted into the woman’s vagina to visualize the cervix. A small catheter is then used to insert the prepared sperm directly into the uterus, a relatively quick and painless procedure. It improves the chances of ovulation.
Post-procedure:
Some healthcare providers may recommend additional progesterone supplementation to support the uterine lining during the early stages of pregnancy.
IUI Procedure:
- Sperm collection: This can happen in several ways, such as through:
- masturbating into a sterile container
- retrieving into a special condom during sex
- extracting from a urine sample in a lab
- collecting while undergoing vibratory stimulation
- Sperm sample washing:This involves the removal of the seminal fluid from the sample because it can cause severe cramping in the female. This part can take 1–2 hours.
- Sperm insertion:The individual will lie down as a healthcare professional inserts a thin, flexible catheter through the cervix into the uterus. They then slowly inject the sperm sample. This takes a few minutes.
IUI Fertility Treatment Steps
Initial Consultation:
- The process typically begins with an initial consultation with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist.
- During this process, the doctor will review the patient’s medical history, conduct a physical examination, and may order preliminary tests to assess fertility.
Diagnostic Testing:
- Diagnostic tests are performed to identify any underlying causes of infertility.
- These tests may include hormone level evaluations, ovarian reserve testing, imaging tests, genetic testing, and semen analysis for the male partner.
Treatment Planning:
- Based on the results of the diagnostic tests, the fertility specialist will develop a personalized treatment plan.
- The plan may involve lifestyle modifications, medications, or more advanced treatments like assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Medications:
- If medications are prescribed, the patient will typically receive instructions on when and how to take them.
- These medications may be used to stimulate ovulation, regulate hormone levels, or prepare the body for procedures like IVF.
Treatment of Fertility Steps
Ovarian Stimulation:
- Ovarian stimulation may be required to produce multiple mature eggs for retrieval.
- This is commonly done using injectable fertility medications and is monitored closely with ultrasounds and blood tests.
Egg Retrieval:
- If IVF is part of the treatment plan, the next step involves retrieving the mature eggs from the ovaries.
- This is typically performed under sedation or anesthesia using transvaginal ultrasound guidance.
- IUI Fertility Treatment, The eggs are then collected using a thin needle.
Fertilization:
- The retrieved eggs are combined with sperm in the laboratory using either conventional insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
- Conventional insemination involves placing the eggs and sperm together in a culture dish, while ICSI involves injecting a single sperm directly into each egg.
Embryo Development:
- The fertilized eggs, now called embryos, are monitored in the laboratory for several days as they develop.
- The embryos are assessed for quality and viability.
Embryo Transfer:
- Once the embryos have reached the appropriate stage of development, one or more are selected for transfer into the woman’s uterus.
- IUI Fertility Treatment, The embryos are typically transferred using a thin catheter inserted through the cervix.
- The number of embryos transferred depends on factors such as the woman’s age and embryo quality, and the decision is made in consultation with the fertility specialist.