What is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) — a type of artificial insemination — is a non-surgical fertility treatment in which a healthcare professional injects sperm into a woman’s uterus.
IUI aims to improve a woman’s chances of fertilization by increasing the number of healthy sperm that reach her fallopian tubes. IUI can be performed with a male partner’s sperm or donor sperm.
What is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?
- women who are unable to have vaginal sex due to a physical disability
- women who are unable to ovulate due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hypothalamic dysfunction
- couples with unexplained infertility
- male partners with minor semen abnormalities (low sperm count, low sperm motility, etc.), ejaculatory dysfunction, or erectile dysfunction
- same-sex couples interested in starting a family
- single women wishing to conceive
How much does the IUI procedure cost?
IUI is a very common fertility treatment. That said, IUI costs vary depending on a person’s location, insurance coverage, and fertility clinic.
On average, in the U.S., one IUI cycle could cost anywhere between $300 and $4,000 without insurance. Additional out-of-pocket costs may include fertility medications, lab testing, and imaging/ultrasounds.
Insurance coverage of fertility services varies by state. Some states require insurance companies to provide infertility benefits with “mandate to cover” laws, others do not.
IUI Risks & Possible Side Effects
- multiple pregnancies
- infection
- spotting
- ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
What are the chances of twins or triplets with IUI?
Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Femara (letrozole), for example, are ovulation-stimulating medications that are often given to women undergoing IUI. These drugs help the body produce multiple eggs — the only caveat is that two or more may release simultaneously, producing multiple implantations.
Gonadotropins (injectable follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH) help stimulate the growth of egg follicles. Sometimes, fertility specialists combine IUI with gonadotropin injections, which can lead to multiple implantations. In fact, according to ASRM, up to 30% of women who use injectable medications may have a multiple gestation. This is why careful monitoring with ultrasound and bloodwork is required.
Is IUI painful?
IUI is a quick and painless outpatient procedure for many, though some patients may experience mild cramping during and immediately after insemination.
When do you know IUI is successful?
It can take up to two weeks for a person to know whether or not they’re pregnant following an IUI procedure.
Once two weeks have passed, the patient will be asked to take a pregnancy test. If positive, the doctor will ask the patient to come in for bloodwork to confirm the pregnancy.