Intrauterine Insemination Is a Cost-Effective Option

Intrauterine insemination (IUI), frequently called artificial insemination, is a fertility treatment where our clinical team inserts specially prepared sperm with a catheter into a woman’s uterus. The goal is to get as many sperm as possible near the fallopian tubes to increase the chances of fertilization and pregnancy.

Because it is less expensive and complicated than IVF, we typically start patients on several rounds of IUI before proceeding to assisted reproductive technologies.

The simultaneous use of fertility medications enhances the timing of the IUI. Ovulation induction occurs with either pills (Clomid) or medication administered by injection (gonadotropins). These medications induce the female to ovulate multiple eggs. We carefully monitor our patients with blood tests and ultrasounds. Once a surge in LH, luteinizing hormone, is detected, ovulation occurs 24-36 hours later, and we time the IUI to coincide with it.

The laboratory prepares the semen by separating the sperm cells from the seminal fluid and placing the sperm in a sterile nutrient solution inserted directly into the uterus.

This procedure is used when a hostile cervical environment impedes the sperm’s progress when the sperm quantity or quality is suboptimal, or for unexplained infertility.

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Andrology Services

Before undergoing Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), we prepare the semen sample used for this procedure in one of the following ways listed below.

Semen Wash

Semen washing is a procedure in which a semen specimen is prepared for therapeutic insemination. We wash semen to remove the seminal plasma from the ejaculate and concentrate all of the sperm into a small volume for insemination into the cervix or uterus.

Sperm Isolation

Sperm isolation is a procedure in which the motile sperm is separated from the seminal plasma using a special medium to isolate sperm from the seminal plasma. This procedure usually produces a sample enriched with motile sperm and minimal particulate contamination. The specimen is then concentrated into a small volume for insemination into the cervix or uterus.

Sperm Freezing

Sperm freezing is a procedure in which a sperm sample is stored for later use using cryopreservation. The laboratory freezes sperm in liquid nitrogen, and it often thaws well. Conception rates are usually excellent. Using this procedure can guarantee the ready availability of semen required for any of our reproductive techniques where there may be an issue with the co-location of the egg and semen when needed.