Who Is the Right Candidate for IUI?

Childless couples and singles who want to embrace parenthood unconventionally may not know a lot about fertility treatments. There are various fertility treatments available globally, but a lack of understanding about them can be overwhelming. Especially if you’re on this journey for the first time. Among the various fertility treatments, intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a popular one.

The IUI treatment, as compared to IVF or in-vitro fertilization, is more affordable and less invasive. Now, the question is who are the ideal candidates for IUI? Well, to know that, concerned people need to know what IUI is and how it helps with the process of fertility.

What is IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)?

IU, or intrauterine insemination, is a procedure for fertility. In this procedure, the sperm is washed, concentrated, and positioned in the woman’s uterus. The sperm has to be placed in the uterus when she is ovulating. This is the ideal time for fertilization. Furthermore, with this treatment, you can avoid the usual challenges that you may face during natural conception. IUI is a simpler process than IVF, which takes place in multiple stages like ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer. With IUI treatment, hopeful parents can access less intensive fertility care. 

Who is An Ideal Candidate for IUI?

Depending on several factors, fertility specialists can determine the right candidates for IUI. The woman’s age, medications that she’s consuming, medical history, and various other factors can determine the ideal IUI candidate.

1. Ovulatory Disorders

Candidates with ovulatory disorders are ideal for IUI treatment. These disorders may include PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Women having this syndrome or related disorders are administered medications for ovary stimulation. In the process of IUI, the fertility window of the women is analyzed to ensure their ovulating phase is controlled. This increases the chances of conception.

2. Unexplained Infertility

Many couples and singles struggle with infertility, and the reasons are unknown. The only way they get to know about their condition is when they get themselves tested. In such a scenario, the first line of fertility care would be IUI. This procedure places the sperm directly in the uterus and avoids common issues like the inability of sperm to reach the eggs or slight ovulation.

3. No Damage in the Fallopian Tube

When people opt for the IUI procedure, it is important to ensure that the females’ fallopian tubes are healthy. In the process of IUI, the sperms are only placed in the uterus. However, in the next part, the sperm must reach the egg naturally. If the female has a damaged fallopian tube or pelvic infection, IUI would not be an ideal option. Hence, if you’re considering IUI, ensure that you or the female partner have a healthy fallopian tube.

4. Women’s Age & No Severe Infertility Concerns

Age is an important factor in fertility. The success rate of IUI is greater with women under 35 years of age. Generally, women under this age range have larger ovary reserves and can produce healthy eggs. However, for women above 35 years of age, the IUI procedure becomes a little complicated. Nevertheless, the chances of conception for older women through IUI is 10-12%, and above that it is 2-3%. In such cases, IVF treatment can be a better option.

5. Male Infertility

If your male partner has infertility issues like motility or low sperm count, they can be ideal for an IUI procedure. To increase the chance of fertilization, IUI specialists wash and concentrate the sperm. Ensure that IUI is a viable fertility treatment option if the males have mild infertility issues.

What Are the Benefits of IUI?

The IUI treatment is one of the well-known fertility treatments around the world. This process has helped many singles and couples to achieve parenthood. The numerous benefits that IUI offers are as follows:

●     If you’ve just started exploring fertility treatment options, IUI can be affordable and less invasive than all other options.

●     IUI is an easy fertility procedure, hence it doesn’t require a lot of medications and monitoring, as compared to IVF.

●     For fertility treatment, IUI offers the safest procedure for getting pregnant.

●     Unlike IVF, which takes place in a prolonged timeline with multiple stages, IUI’s timeline is much shorter.

●     In the process of IUI, sperm quality also improves as it undergoes the methods of wash and concentration.

●     In comparison to natural conception, IUI increases the chances of conception.

How Does the IUI Process Work?

It can put a lot of pressure on people who are clueless about the process of IUI. Hence, it is important to know how IUI works. There aren’t many steps for IUI. That way, it is safe to say that it is quite a straightforward procedure. The following are the steps for IUI:

Step 1: Ovulation Monitoring

The next step is to track when the woman is ovulating. Though there are tracking devices to monitor ovulation cycles, hormone tests, and ultrasound can determine the ideal time for insemination more effectively.

Step 2: Preparing the Sperm

The process starts with the preparation of the sperm. It is first collected from the male donor or partner, washed, and then concentrated. This step enhances the chances of fertilization.

Step 3: Insemination

The washed and concentrated sperm is placed in the uterus at this stage with the help of a thin catheter. This procedure is straightforward and usually free of pain. However, some women may feel slight discomfort like mild cramping.

Step 4: Pregnancy Test

After about 14 days of the insemination process, you need to take a pregnancy test to confirm the conception. Women should stay as stress-free as possible during this time between post-insemination and taking a pregnancy test. Stress can affect conception. Thus, try to avoid anxiety and stress.

Conclusion

Singles and couples who wish to start a family but can’t do it through natural conception can rely on IUI. It is a viable and straightforward treatment option for promising fertility. However, to undergo the process, you need to be an eligible candidate. Various factors determine if people are suitable candidates for IUI. Furthermore, this fertility care is much more affordable than IVF, which happens in multiple phases.

If you want to become a parent(s) and the natural conception way is not possible, ReproArt Fertility can be your go-to place. Offering the best IUI doctor in Ghaziabad, the fertility centre/clinic ensures fast fertility treatment. The specialists have 12 years of experience in providing personalized care to patients, depending on their issues. You can book an appointment to see which fertility treatment would suit your needs.