While getting pregnant is a dream come true for those aiming to start a family, it can be equally challenging for couples dealing with fertility issues. The advent of modern medicine has provided a range of medical solutions that let you conceive despite infertility concerns. While there are a few more mainstream ones, you may be unfamiliar with the breadth and width of those available.
One of them is an IUI pregnancy, also known as an Intrauterine Insemination. Whether you are unfamiliar with or understand the procedure on a surface level, here is everything you need to know. This procedure is also called artificial insemination, which helps address infertility concerns.
The procedure helps improve your chances of conceiving by transferring the best quality sperm directly into your uterus at the same time when your ovaries release an egg. The reason is to increase the odds of the egg and sperm merging in the uterus. If the procedure is successful, it results in a pregnancy.
How many eggs are released during menstruation?
Normally, medical professionals ensure that the timing of an IUI procedure aligns with your menstrual cycle. The woman’s ovaries release an egg during the menstrual cycle. Carrying out an IUI in time with it increases the chances of the procedure being a success. Another alternative you can consider is to use fertility medicines to help the ovaries produce and release eggs.
Which method is used during the IUI treatment largely depends on the underlying cause of infertility.
What are the reasons for opting for this treatment?
The IUI treatment is usually used to treat fertility problems. Whether you are a couple or an individual, you may face fertility challenges due to various underlying reasons. IUI is mostly used for people with:
- Sperm from a donor
If you are trying to become pregnant using sperm donated by an unknown individual, you may require IUI. Getting impregnated by donor sperm has become popular for single women or if their partner’s sperm count or quality is low. Usually, people opting for artificial insemination may acquire donor sperm from sperm banks, certified labs, etc., where it is often kept frozen for preservation. The sperm is thawed out before beginning the IUI procedure.
- Unexplained infertility
If you are struggling to get pregnant and doctors cannot determine a specific cause, the first line of treatment may be an IUI. Medicines encouraging egg growth in the ovaries are also used along with the procedure.
- Endometriosis-related infertility
You may have heard of endometriosis, when your uterus lining grows outside the organ. It can be a leading cause of infertility among many women. One of the first treatments which can be used to tackle infertility caused by endometriosis is sourcing an egg of good quality and proceeding with IUI.
- Mild male infertility
Couples experience mild male factor infertility or subfertility due to semen. It is the fluid that carries sperm. The condition is diagnosed through a semen analysis, which looks for issues with the size, shape, amount, or movement of sperm. You can opt for semen analysis at the best fertility centre in Chennai, where you will get guidance from trained doctors and specialists.
Once the results are declared and denote that you are suffering from fertility issues, IUI is recommended to overcome them. It entails preparing the sperm and helps distinguish higher-quality sperm from inferior ones.
- Cervical factor infertility
Issues with the cervix, which is the lower, narrower bit of the uterus, can also be a cause of infertility. The cervix is an opening between the uterus and the vagina, which secretes mucus every time the ovary releases eggs, also known as ovulation. The mucus is instrumental in helping sperm travel from the vagina to either of the fallopian tubes, where the egg is ready for fertilisation.
However, if the mucus is too thick, it becomes an obstacle for the sperm to move towards the egg. The IUI process helps circumvent the cervix and increases the odds of a pregnancy occurring.
- Ovulatory factor infertility
If a woman is facing ovulation problems, such as fewer eggs or a lack of ovulation, IUI can assist with addressing any infertility caused by the same.
Conclusion
Keep trying for at least a year to get pregnant. If that does not work, you may opt for fertility treatments. Before doing so, you are advised to consult a specialist to guide you through the process.