Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is now the gold standard of artificial inseminations. This process is used for many different causes of infertility and has a varying pregnancy rate, from about 5–25 percent per cycle, depending on the diagnosis and protocol used. It may or may not include the use of medications.
The ProcessIf you choose to do intrauterine insemination, you will follow a fairly simple process. You will be monitoring your body for ovulation. When you note the LH surge you will be asked to notify someone at the fertility clinic. They will tell you what further instructions you need. This will likely be a time for your husband's sperm sample to be given. You will be asked to come in a bit after your partner has made his donation of sperm.
The insemination usually takes place within the doctor's office or the fertility clinic. It does not require anesthesia. Intrauterine insemination is a fairly easy process that involves the placing of washed sperm into your uterus. During the insemination you will lay on an examination table, just like that in any other gynecological exam. Your doctor or a nurse practitioner will take a small catheter and syringe prefilled with your husband's washed sperm sample and will inject it directly into your uterus, bypassing your cervix.
Most women describe the feeling of the insemination to be that of a regular pap smear. After the washed sperm is placed inside the uterus, you will then lie on the examination table for about fifteen to twenty minutes. This is to prevent any possible seeping of the sperm and its medium from the uterus. This is done largely as a comfort measure, as the cervix closes back down after the catheter is removed.
How come I feel more moist after the IUI, if it's not sperm leaking?
The moisture you feel could be from cervical mucous being released by the procedure. Remember the procedure is timed so that it's done right around the time of ovulation, when increased mucous is often noted.
After the intrauterine insemination you may feel some cramping. Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about medications to control or ease pain from cramping. It is usually not a cause for bleeding. If you do experience some bleeding, you may wish to call your doctor to reassure yourself about the bleeding. Sometimes the cervix is very tender and any manipulation, no matter how slight, can cause bleeding.
Generally, there are no restrictions on what you can do following the insemination. In fact, your practitioner might encourage you to have intercourse after the intrauterine insemination, just to cover all your bases. There is no real need to take it easy, but if you feel the need to refrain from aerobics or heavy lifting, you may do so. There is no indication that decreasing activity increases the chances of conception.
The intrauterine insemination is a great tool for you if you suffer from cervical stenosis. This can help bypass your cervical issues altogether and help increase your pregnancy rates. The intrauterine insemination (IUI) is therefore a great alternative to the other treatments for cervical stenosis.
