What is Intrauterine ? Updated: December 2018

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a low tech form of assisted , which is typically performed in a doctor’s office.

When individuals or couples begin • Blocked fallopian tubes or tubal fertility treatment, their health damage care professional may recommend • Ovarian failure or lack of ovulation Intrauterine insemination for several reasons, some of which include: • Significantly reduced ovarian reserve • Advanced • Issues with cervical • Unexplained Sometimes referred to as artificial insemination, IUIs are typically the • Ovulation problems, such as those first procedure utilized if someone is that occur with polycystic ovarian interested in assisted reproductive syndrome (PCOS) support. IUIs can be done as a natural • Mild endometriosis cycle without the use of any , or with drugs such as clomid Intrauterine insemination is not or injected gonadotropins1. IUI can be considered to be an effective treatment timed via protocols, for: as when the patient’s ovulation is being

Advancing Equality for LGBTQ Families www.familyequality.org 1 monitored by a physician or, through a speculum will be inserted into the the use of ovulation predictor kits that and then a thin, flexible , the patient utilizes at home2. or tube, will be placed into the . Washed are then injected directly If you have been prescribed fertility into the with a syringe. The medication in conjunction with IUI, your procedure is only mildly uncomfortable physician will monitor your ovarian for most individuals and takes less than follicle growth (length and number of five minutes from start to finish. follicles) through the use of ultrasound and blood tests. This will determine not Timing of the IUI procedure is only your readiness for the procedure important; a window of 6 hours on itself, but will help to reduce the risk of either side of ovulation is the norm. hyperstimulation to the . If an hCG shot has been administered to trigger ovulation, the IUI will take place Prior to beginning treatment, it around 36 hours after the injection has is important that you discuss the been administered. possibility of multiples with your physician. The rate Intrauterine inseminations are a women experience through Intrauterine relatively inexpensive treatment, when insemination is increased when infertility compared to In Vitro fertilization. medications are used3. However, it is important to discuss a realistic time plan for these procedures To prepare for the procedure itself, with your physician. Sometimes

Advancing Equality for LGBTQ Families www.familyequality.org 2 individuals get “stuck” attempting IUI Discuss how many IUIs it makes sense month after month unsuccessfully. This for you to have with your physician can actually cost much more in the long during your initial consultation. Three run in terms of time, emotional energy, to four attempts utilizing and money than moving on to other is what most doctors recommend, prior types of treatment. Of great importance to suggesting that you consider moving here is the age of the patient, and the onto other options. ticking of her biological clock.

Endnotes Bibliography, continued 1 Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago, 13 July Huang HY, Less CL et al. “The impact of the total 2010, http://www.advancedfertility.com/unex- motile sperm count on the success of intra- plai.htm uterine insemination with husband’s sperma- 2 The American Fertility Association Blog – IUI tozoa.” Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. vrs. IVF: A Patient Guide, 13 July 2010, http:// gov/sites/pubmed. 10 July 2010. theafa.typepad.com/theafablog/2010/03/iui- “IUI or IVF? Fertility Forums”. Available at: http:// vrs-ivf-a-patient-guide.html forums.fertilitycommunity.com/intrauter- 3 Tomlinson MJ, Amissah-Arthur JB et al. 11 July ine-insemination-iui/274376-iui-ivf.html. 13 2010. 11:9, 1892-6, July 2010. Prognostic indicators for intrauterine insemi- “IUI to IVF Transition Message Board at LIFamilies.” nation (IUI): statistical model for IUI success. Available at: http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/ topic-539539-1.html. 12 July 2010. Shapiro, Daniel. “IUI vrs. IVF – a Patient Guide.” Available at: http://theafa.typepad.com/ Bibliography theafablog/2010/03/iui-vrs-ivf-apatientguide. “Artificial insemination for infertility, Intrauterine html. 13 July 2010. insemination – IUI.” Available at: http://www. Tomlinson MJ, Amissah-Arthur JB et al. “Prognostic advancedfertility.com/insem.htm. 1 July 2010. indicators for intrauterine insemination (IUI): Bensdorp AJ, Slappendel E et al. “The INeS study: statistical model for IUI success.” Available at: prevention of multiple : a ran- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/pubmed. 9 domized controlled trial comparing July 2010. IUI COH versus IVF SET versus MNC IVF in couples “ Background, Tests and with unexplained or mild male subfertility.” Treatment.” Available at: http://www.ad- Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ vancedfertility.com/unexplai.htm. 14 July sites/pubmed. 12 July 2010. 2010. Chambers GM, Sulllivan EA et al. “Is in vitro fertil- Van Voorhis BJ, Barnett M et al. “Effect of the ization more effective than stimulated intra- total motile sperm count on the efficacy and uterine insemination as a first-line therapy for cost-effectiveness of intrauterine insemina- subfertility? A cohort analysis.” Available at: tion and in vitro fertilization.” Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/pubmed. 1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/pubmed. 1 June 2010. April 2001. “Frequently Asked Questions About Intrauterine Whelan, Corey “What is Intrauterine insemina- Insemination (IUI)”. Available at: http://www. tion?” Available at: http://www.examiner. fertilityplus.org/faq/iui.html. 11 July 2010. com/x-24753-Infertility-Miscarriage-Examin- Gurevich, Rachel. “What is IUI?” Available at: http:// er~y2010m7d11-What-is-Intrauterine-insemi- infertility.about.com/od/infertilitytreat- nation. 12 July 2010. ments/a/what_is_IUI.htm. 1 July 2010.

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