IUI, or Intrauterine Insemination, is one of the most common assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures designed to help couples struggling with infertility. It is a lot more prevalent than in-vitro fertilization because it’s less invasive and less expensive.
In this procedure, the retrieved and treated sperm cell is directly inserted into the uterus of the intended mother (or surrogate) to increase the chances of successful fertilization and eventual pregnancy.
While the success rates of IUI can vary from one patient to the other, there are specific tips that are proven to improve the success of IUI and help you embrace the joy of pregnancy and eventual parenthood.
A Brief Overview of Intrauterine Insemination
Before we walk you through the tips that optimize the IUI success rate, it is mandatory to have a clear understanding of the procedure and what it entails.
IUI, commonly known as artificial insemination, involves the direct insertion of sperm into the uterine cavity of the intended mother during their fertile window. The objective is simple – to initiate the successful fertilization of the sperm and egg for eventual conception.
The procedure is standard among infertile couples with specific infertility issues such as male factor infertility, unexplained infertility, and cervical mucus problems.
What is the Procedure of IUI?
The procedure of IUI generally involves five steps. Let us break them down individually for better understanding.
Initial consultation
A fertility treatment or procedure can only be done with a thorough consultation with a fertility specialist at the Fertility Care Centre. Understanding what the concerns and limitations are is integral to determining if IUI would be the most effective infertility treatment for the individual or couple.
During the initial consultation, our fertility specialist will prioritize understanding the concerns, assess the patient’s medical history, and prescribe relevant testing to reach a conclusion and confirm the diagnosis.
If the patients are an ideal fit for undergoing the IUI procedure, a date for the treatment’s initiation is asserted, and the next steps follow.
Ovulation induction
Since IUI involves the insertion of the sperm directly into the uterine cavity, timing is key during the process.
The sperm needs to be inserted during the peak fertile window of the patient to ensure successful fertilization of the sperm and the egg. For this, some women might receive fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries and produce multiple eggs, increasing the chances of successful fertilization.
Sperm preparation
The next step is preparing the sperm sample that will be inserted into the uterus of the intended mother. In this case, the male partner has to provide their semen sample, which the specialists then process.
From the sample, the most motile and healthiest sperm cells are isolated for insertion in the uterine cavity.
Insemination
Finally, once the sperm sample has been processed and concentrated on isolating the healthiest and most potent sperm, it is introduced into the woman’s uterus using a thin, flexible catheter.
Waiting period
Following the completion of the insemination, the couples then have to wait for a few weeks to confirm if the fertilization was successful and if the implantation and pregnancy followed through ot not.
During this waiting period, there are specific tips that one can integrate into one’s life to enhance the success of the IUI treatment. We will discuss more on that in the next section of the article.
9 Tips to Ensure IUI Success
The success rate of IUI can vary depending on several factors, including the age of the woman, the cause of infertility, the quality of the sperm, and the expertise of the medical team.
Regarding numbers, around 10-20% of the IUI cycles are successful after the first try, but the rates could be higher in other cases. There are a lot of variables involved.
What’s interesting about IUI is that the success rate often increases with the IUI cycles. The American Pregnancy Association reports that the success rate of IUI after three cycles is around 60-70%.
Following are a few tips that can help in optimizing the success rates of the IUI treatment:
1. Timing is key
Regarding IUI, timing is crucial and one of the most vital attributes of the whole process. To maximize the chances of success, it is essential to track ovulation accurately.
Since the IUI procedure, especially artificial insemination needs to be done during the woman’s fertile window, timing the ovulation becomes mandatory to increase the likelihood of sperm meeting the egg.
Ovulation tracking can be done using various methods, including monitoring basal body temperature, cervical mucus consistency, and ovulation predictor kits.
2. Optimizing sperm quality
Another critical determinant of the IUI success rate is the quality and the motility of the sperm. The higher the sperm quality, the better the chances of successful fertilization and pregnancy.
Several factors, including vitality, health, motility, anatomy, etc, determine sperm quality. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and even taking care of the required supplements that support sperm quality is key to optimizing sperm quality for a successful IUI cycle.
Some factors that degrade and negatively influence sperm quality are smoking, alcohol consumption, and a poor diet. So, if you and your partner are considering undergoing IUI, encourage your partner to ditch these poor habits and make the required lifestyle changes.
3. Choosing the right fertility clinic
It is true that the patient’s health and well-being matter, but the clinic and the specialists you are relying on for your IUI treatment also make a huge part of the IUI success rate.
This is where Fertility Cure Centre steps into the picture. With years of reliability and good name in India and across the globe, and with a team of highly qualified and experienced fertility specialists, embryologists, etc., our repertoire places us at the top of the chart.
FCC provides comprehensive and effective care, two factors that are key to determining the success of IUI. We perform the IUI procedure with the highest level of precision and accuracy for optimal results.
4. Prioritize emotional well-being
Stress is an antagonist when you are undergoing any fertility treatment. Although it’s normal to feel restless and stressed, especially after the procedure, it is essential that one prioritizes one’s emotional well-being and implements relevant stress management techniques to maximize success.
High-stress levels can disrupt the body’s hormonal balance and lead to complications. Hence, introducing effective stress-alleviating techniques like meditation, yoga, and counseling has been found to be effective in managing the aftermath.
By creating a supportive and nurturing environment, couples can enhance their overall well-being, which, in turn, can improve the chances of a successful IUI.
5. Focus on maintaining a healthy weight
This is one of those factors that you have to adopt before you venture into your IUI treatment cycles. Being overweight or obese can have negative impacts on the body’s metabolic functioning and hormonal balance, both of which can affect the success of the IUI cycle.
Hence, if you don’t want your weight to be a disruptor in your IUI cycle down the road, it’s vital to prioritize working towards or maintaining a healthy weight.
6. Focus on eating a balanced diet
What you eat before, during, and after your IUI cycle will make a whole lot of difference in the success rates of the treatment.
Ideally, you want to nourish your body with all the vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. Hence, including variety and variance in your diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, healthy fats, etc., is beneficial.
Furthermore, you’d have to ditch your ill habits like smoking and drinking alcohol at least a few weeks or a few months before you start your IUI treatment. Depending on your physical well-being and test results, you might have to take prescribed supplements as suggested by your fertility specialist.
7. Prioritize physical activity
Exercising and being active will not only take care of your overall physical well-being but also contribute to the success of IUI treatment.
There are several reasons why that’s the case. Increased or consistent physical activity has been proven to improve blood circulation and help with weight management, critical factors for optimal IUI results.
Also, exercising regularly is associated with stress reduction and improved hormonal balance, which are two of the most important factors that influence the success of IUI.
8. Healthy sleep pattern
Your lack of sleep could impact your IUI success. Some of the benefits of having a healthy and regulated sleep pattern include the following:
- Hormone regulation
- Improved ovulation
- Stress reduction
- Immune system support
- Improved sperm quality
- Healthy lifestyle habits, etc.
Establishing a healthy sleep pattern when you don’t necessarily have one already can be challenging. However, with proper habit-building, it shouldn’t take long to prioritize your well-being and get the sleep you need in a day. A healthy sleep pattern is a fundamental aspect of optimizing your fertility and enhancing your chances of success with IUI.
9. Avoid harmful radiation exposure
Last on the list is probably one of the most underrated intrauterine insemination tips that most people are unaware of or don’t care about enough.
This is a precaution you must take after the insemination process by reducing prolonged exposure to sunlight, X-ray radiation in diagnostic centers, etc.
Additionally, if you or your partner work in an occupation that involves exposure to ionizing radiation, taking relevant precautions is key. Furthermore, environmental radiation from living near nuclear power plants can contribute to potential health risks. So, that’s another factor you have to prioritize.
Conclusion
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a viable option for couples struggling with infertility, offering a less invasive and more affordable alternative to in vitro fertilization. While IUI has a moderate success rate, the cumulative success rate can significantly improve with multiple cycles and the implementation of various strategies.
At Fertility Cure Centre, we are here to listen to your struggles and offer tailored fertility treatments like IUI with optimal results so you can embrace parenthood with joy and excitement. To start your IUI journey with our specialists at FCC, kindly contact us directly.
