Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a kind of artificial insemination that involves the placement of the male sperm directly into the female uterus (womb) using a catheter.
This assisted reproductive technology helps in bypassing the female cervix and bringing the male sperm near the female egg to increase the chances of fertilization by reducing the distance that the sperm needs to travel and prevent any problems caused due to the cervical mucus that may stop the sperm from traveling.
IUI can help couples struggling with fertility problems to help in achieving a successful pregnancy and childbirth. However, not everyone is a good candidate for IUI. In this article, we will be discussing the ideal candidates for an IUI procedure.
Who Is a Good Candidate for IUI?
For a woman to be considered a good candidate for IUI, she needs to first fulfill the following general criteria:
- Good general health
- Normal hormone levels
- No underlying medical conditions that may impact her fertility
- Realistic expectations from the procedure
- Willing to follow instructions related to the procedure such as taking the prescribed fertility drugs properly, timely visits to the doctor, and follow-up care after the procedure
Apart from the above general criteria, there are certain conditions in which IUI is considered to be a good treatment option for couples struggling with infertility. Couples having the following conditions are considered to be good candidates for an IUI procedure:
- Mild male factor infertility: The different conditions that could lead to male factor infertility are:
- Oligospermia or low sperm count: In this condition, the male partner has a lower-than-normal sperm count but still has some motile sperm.
- Teratospermia or mild abnormality in sperm morphology: This is a condition in which some sperm have abnormal shapes.
- Asthenospermia or poor sperm motility: In this condition, the male sperm have a reduced ability to swim and move.
- Cervical factor infertility: The male sperm could have some trouble in passing through the female cervix and reaching the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry the female eggs from the ovaries to the uterus or womb). This may occur due to the unfavorable environment of the cervical mucus, which prevents the sperm from passing through it. IUI helps in bypassing the cervix altogether by placing the sperm directly inside the uterus.
- Infertility due to an unknown cause: When any clear, identifiable cause for a couple’s infertility cannot be detected, the doctor may suggest undergoing a less invasive procedure like IUI to help the couple conceive.
- Intercourse timing problems: Couples who are having problems in timing their intercourse accurately during a woman’s ovulation window, which is when the female egg is released from one of her ovaries and is known to be her fertile period, can take advantage of the controlled timing followed in an IUI procedure.
- Mild endometriosis: This is a condition in which a tissue similar to the one lining a woman’s uterus starts growing outside the uterus to cause fertility issues. IUI may be considered for mild cases of endometriosis before attempting the more aggressive types of infertility treatments.
- After treating PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome): PCOS is a condition in which hormonal imbalance leads to irregular periods and ovulation, and even the absence of ovulation in some cases. After treating the condition using medications or injections, IUI may be recommended to increase the chances of the male sperm meeting the female egg when ovulation occurs.
- Use of donor male sperm: Couples who are recommended to use donor sperm to conceive, such as in cases where the male partner is infertile or in cases of same-sex couples, may use IUI as a method for introducing the donor male sperm into the woman’s uterus.
- Men with ejaculation problems or erectile dysfunction:Couples who are unable to conceive due to problems related to ejaculation or erectile dysfunction in the male partner may be able to conceive with the help of IUI treatment.
- Mild infertility problems in male and female partners: When both male and female partners have mild infertility issues that could possibly be resolved by the placement of the sperm directly into the female uterus, the doctor suggests undergoing IUI treatment.
- Inability to conceive naturally: Doctors generally recommend undergoing a less invasive type of treatment like IUI before opting for more complex fertility treatments like IVF for couples who have been trying to conceive naturally without any success.
When is IUI Not Indicated?
Although IUI is found to be useful in helping couples struggling with infertility to conceive, the procedure is not effective in certain causes or conditions of infertility. IUI is generally not recommended in the following cases of infertility:
- Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
- Low ovarian reserve (fewer eggs in the ovaries) or poor quality of female eggs
- Women over 40 years of age
- Severe endometriosis
- Problems due to pelvic adhesions (scarring or adhesion of adjacent organs in the pelvic region)
- Severe form of male factor infertility
- Failed IUI treatment even after multiple attempts
Conclusion
IUI is a less invasive type of assisted reproductive technology that involves injecting the male sperm directly into the uterus of a woman to help couples struggling with fertility issues to conceive.
Women with good general health, normal hormonal levels, no underlying medical conditions, realistic expectations, and willing to follow the doctor’s recommendations can generally undergo an IUI procedure.
IUI procedure is generally indicated in cases like mild endometriosis, mild male factor infertility, cervical factor infertility, infertility resulting from an unknown cause, problems in timing the intercourse properly, mild infertility problems in the male and female partners, men having ejaculation problems or erectile dysfunction, couples who need to use male donor sperm, and couples who have been unable to conceive naturally even after trying for a year or more.
However, not everyone is considered to be a good candidate for IUI. You should consult a fertility specialist to know if IUI is a good fertility treatment option for you.