Intra-Uterine-Insemination (IUI)

• IUI is a fertility treatment in which the washed sperm is introduced directly into the uterus with the help of a catheter. This procedure is used for couples with unexplained infertility, minimal male factor infertility, ejaculation dysfunction and women with cervical mucus problems or cervical scar tissue due to previous procedures or endometriosis. IUI is often done in conjunction with ovulation-stimulating drugs (such as clomophine citrate, gonadotropins, or urofollitropins). Semen from the male partner is "washed" or separated using a buffered medium. Semen washing helps to retrieve highly motile, morphologically normal sperms from the man’s ejaculate and concentrates them into a small volume. A catheter is used to inject the processed sperm directly into the uterus. This process maximizes the number of sperm cells that are placed in the uterus, thus increasing the possibility of conception. The IUI procedure takes little time and involves minimal discomfort. The success rate is more for the women who are under the age of 35, but the average success rate for IUI ranges from 10 to 20% per cycle.