If you’re one of the persons who have tried multiple times but because of some reason you weren’t able to conceive then you must take this thing seriously. But if it’s due to mildly low sperm count then you need not worry. IUI or intrauterine insemination is perhaps the simplest solution to your problem.
In this article, Dr. Hrishikesh Pai explains everything about IUI or intrauterine insemination. He will also be sharing some points to think about if you’re planning to opt for IUI. He’s who is working with Bloom IVF centre which is one of the best IVF centre in Mumbai. By following the ideas shared in this article you’ll be able to maximize your chances for IUI success.
Table of Contents
Intrauterine Insemination:
Dr. Mohit Saraogi who is one of the most renowned doctors in the field of surrogacy in Mumbai says that IUI or intrauterine insemination is a technique where sperm is put directly into the uterus. It’s one of the most commonly used fertility treatments in the world. IUI may be a relatively easy, non-invasive & inexpensive fertility treatment. He also added that it can speed up the time it takes to get pregnant compared to only having sex.
How Does An Iui Work Exactly?
IUI stands for intrauterine insemination. During an IUI, the sperm is placed directly into the uterus. This bypasses the vagina and therefore the cervix. As a result, tons of sperm can swim into the fallopian tubes where fertilization happens. Many studies have shown that compared to intercourse alone, the prospect for pregnancy with IUI is best.
Even if you would like to become pregnant with IUI, there are three major requirements.
- The male must have sperm.
- The female must ovulate either on her own or with fertility medications.
- The female must have a minimum of one open Fallopian tube.
Why Would This Help?
During sex, the sperm from the male is released into the vagina. Most sperm aren’t even able to cross the vagina and are killed there. Very few of them are able to reach the opening of the uterus referred to as the cervix which is a long tunnel crammed with sticky mucus. Of these sperm that do not die inside the vagina, most will be stuck in the cervix and never make it out. Together, the vagina and cervix present a substantial barrier to the passage of sperm. This is often a serious problem because the egg gets fertilized within the Fallopian tube. If the sperm aren’t making it into the Fallopian tube, then pregnancy can’t happen. So, let’s try to understand the concept of IUI to understand how it ensures pregnancy.
Tests Before Attempting Iui:
All women should have a hysterosalpingogram to make sure that a minimum of one Fallopian tube is open. All men should have a sperm count test to make sure that they have sperm and to ascertain what percentage of sperm there are, what percentage are moving, and how many look normal under the microscope.
Increase Effectiveness:
To ensure the most effectiveness, the IUI should be performed at the time of ovulation. IUI timing must be more precise than intercourse to enhance the probabilities. The time of ovulation is often found out with an ovulation predictor test. Most of the time, these tests are pretty accurate. If you’re someone with one Fallopian tube or have one blocked Fallopian tube monitoring with ultrasound could also be a far better choice since you’ll see when the eggs are maturing.
What Is Sperm Wash?
Well, it’s not actually washing the sperm. Before placing the sperm into a woman’s uterus it must be prepared first. When a person ejaculates, the fluid that he releases consists of two main components: semen and sperm. Semen contains several hormones and chemicals. One group of chemicals especially can cause problems and are referred to as prostaglandins. If high levels of prostaglandins are placed directly into the uterus they will cause a lady to become very sick. To avoid this problem, the fluid part from the sperm is separated and only the sperm is injected into the uterus. This is often called a sperm wash.
Male Sperm Counts And Their Impact On Iui:
IUI seems to work best with men who have normal sperm counts or counts that are mildly low. Guys who have very low sperm counts have a way lower chance for pregnancy with IUI & should go on to IVF. This brings up a really interesting question. The amount of sperm clearly matters for pregnancy. If doing an IUI increases the amount of sperm that reaches the fallopian tubes, wouldn’t it be better to try to do two IUIs than one to extend the chance? This question was answered by this study: Couples with infertility were divided into two groups. One group had just one IUI at the time of ovulation. the other group had two IUIs monthly for four months. But that result shows that there was no difference between the number of couples who became pregnant. This clearly shows that multiple IUIs don’t help.
Resting After Iui- Does That Help?
This question was clarified by a study in the Netherlands. About 400 couples with infertility who were going to have treatment with IUI were split into two groups. In half the couples, women rested for a quarter-hour after the IUI. The second group was asked to get up directly and walk around after the method. The results were pretty astounding! Women who rested for a quarter-hour after an IUI became pregnant more commonly than women who didn’t. By the time couples had tried four IUIs, 27% of the resting group had become pregnant versus 18% of the get-up and go group. That’s a 50% improvement within the success rate. So, Yes resting after IUI makes a difference.