Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is one of the more basic, ‘low-tech’ treatments for infertility and the starting point for many individuals and couples who are having difficulty with conception on their own.
What is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a ‘low-tech’ treatment in which fertilization takes place within a woman’s body. Sperm that has been washed is placed directly in the uterus at a particular time of the ovulation cycle.
IUI Step-By-Step Timeline
A standard IUI cycle usually takes about 28 days, starting from the first day of a patient’s period and ending with a pregnancy test. Because every journey is unique, your timeline may differ based on your individual needs. The IUI process includes ovarian stimulation and monitoring and insemination.
The IUI Process
Your journey begins with a conversation with your physician to explore your goals, vision, and dreams of building a family. Together, you’ll create a personalized action plan tailored to give you the best chance of success. Miracles don’t happen overnight, but we’re here to support your pace — whether you’re eager to move quickly or prefer to take things slow.
- Consultation and Fertility Testing: Consultation and Fertility Testing: Discuss your goals with your physician who will order fertility testing to identify any underlying causes of infertility and determine your personalized treatment plan.
- Prepare for Treatment: Ensure your pre-treatment checklist is completed. This includes signing all consents, gaining medical and financial clearance, confirming your pharmacy, ordering and receiving medications, and reviewing your calendar for medications. The start date of treatment will be determined based on your individual circumstances.
- Period Starts: Contact your nurse on the first full flow day of your period. Baseline ultrasound and labs are done to make sure your body is ready for treatment. IUI treatment will start on cycle day 2-5 depending on your circumstances.
- Ovarian Stimulation: Your care team will let you know when to begin your daily medications, which are designed to stimulate your ovaries to produce and develop multiple follicles. Follicles contain eggs, so the ovaries are stimulated to produce healthy follicles.
- Bloodwork and Ultrasound Monitoring: You will return to the clinic to assess your response to medications and avoid under or over-stimulation. Ultrasound measures follicle size to make sure they are growing. Bloodwork measures hormone levels and medications are adjusted accordingly.
- Trigger Shot: A hormone injection that triggers the final maturation of eggs will be administered when there is a mature follicle. This shot is time-sensitive. Your care team will give you a specific time of day that the shot needs to be administered.
- Insemination: Sperm is prepared with washing to remove dead sperm and debris found in semen. Sperm is placed directly into the uterus using a thin catheter to help the sperm get closer to the egg, increasing the chance of fertilization. It’s a quick procedure performed in our office without the need for anesthesia.
- Pregnancy Test: A blood test will reveal your pregnancy results 2 weeks after your IUI. If your test is positive, we will schedule an ultrasound approximately 3 weeks later.
*Timeline varies based on your individual circumstances.
Download the IUI Timeline
Check out our downloadable IUI timeline. We understand this is a lot to take in, so you can easily view, save, or print the PDF version for your convenience.
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How to get started
Fertility Centers of Illinois has treatment options to help almost everyone build the family of their dreams. It all starts with a doctor consultation.
How it Works
IUI aims to develop multiple eggs rather than one egg that would naturally develop during a menstrual cycle. Once the eggs have reached the right stage, IUIs are performed using specially treated sperm from the partner or a donor. Unlike IVF, fertilization is taking place within the patient’s body instead of in the laboratory setting.
When to Seek IUI Treatment
An IUI is a very effective way to work around certain conditions that make it difficult to conceive on your own. Patients who have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, mild male factor infertility, a cervical factor, or irregular or absent ovulation are often good candidates for IUI.
