Who is a Good Candidate for IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)?
IUI or intrauterine insemination is one of many fertility treatments available at your Jericho, NY, fertility center and it's quite popular among patients who visit our clinic. IUI is very effective in achieving pregnancy for the right patient, it's quick and painless, and it is one of the more affordable options. Still, like most medical treatments it's not effective (nor is it the best choice) for everyone with an infertility problem. Let's look at the best candidates to benefit from IUI here at our North Shore, Long Island fertility practice.
What is IUI and Who Can It Help?
Intrauterine insemination involves inserting sperm into the uterus through a catheter. Our fertility doctor, Dr. Zapantis, selects the most viable sperm from the sperm sample. The targeted catheter insertion eliminates many of the obstacles that can prevent egg fertilization.
If you or your partner has any of the following challenges to successful conception, IUI may help with conception:
- Cervical scar tissue from prior surgery: Fertilization occurs only after the sperm passes the cervix and enters the fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg. The sperm can be prevented from moving up into the cervix by scar tissue blocking the way. Scar tissue is a normal occurrence after any surgery.
- Thick cervical mucus: Mucus is released in order to allow sperm to slip easily into the cervix. If cervical mucus has a thicker consistency, it can actually interfere with sperm, causing it to get stuck while entering and never reach the egg.
- PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome): PCOS can make periods and ovulation irregular or absent altogether. After treating this problem with injections or oral medication, IUI can help the process along by giving the sperm its best chance to meet the egg when ovulation occurs.
- Low sperm count with otherwise healthy sperm.
- Low sperm motility with otherwise healthy sperm.
- Ejaculation issues: If ejaculation isn’t possible, a sperm sample may be collected via medical intervention–and used for IUI.
- Same sex couple: For a female couple, IUI can help a same sex couple using donated sperm. For male couples, the father’s sperm (inserted into a gestational surrogate’s uterus) can help create the pregnancy.
Intrauterine Insemination Success Requirements
For successful IUI, a good female candidate should:
- Be able to ovulate: If there is a problem like PCOS, where ovulation is irregular, fertility injections or oral medications for ovarian stimulation may be needed to prepare the way for IUI.
- Have unobstructed Fallopian tubes: Scar tissue ay block Fallopian tubes in women with serious (or moderate) endometriosis or prior infections.
- Have a healthy, intact uterus: Infection, hereditary issue, previous surgery or injury can damage the uterus and make becoming pregnant or carrying the pregnancy problematic. IUI has a lower chance of working in this case and surgery or surrogacy may be recommended as options.
For successful IUI, a good male candidate should:
- Be able to produce healthy sperm: Otherwise, donor sperm or IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) may be recommended.
Get Expert Advice about Intrauterine Insemination in Jericho, NY
At New York Reproductive Wellness in Jericho, NY, we help women become pregnant every day. We are a leading NYC fertility clinic offering all types of effective fertility treatments for women and men, emphasizing natural approaches. To learn if IUI or intrauterine insemination can help you become pregnant, contact us today.
