Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

IUI (also known as artificial insemination) is a procedure in which sperm are placed in the uterus around the time of ovulation. Because IUI relies on the natural ability of sperm to fertilize an egg in the reproductive tract, it is not suitable for couples who have severe male factor infertility. In addition, the female partner should have open fallopian tubes, normal ovulation (or respond adequately to fertility drugs) and a normal uterine cavity.

For most couples, IUI is performed with the partner’s sperm. However, if the partner’s ejaculate contains few or no live sperm, the couple may consider undergoing more advanced procedures including IVF, ICSI, sperm aspiration, or donor sperm insemination. IUI may be most successful when used in conjunction with fertility drugs such as clomiphene citrate or injectable gonadotropins. These medications bypass the usual female hormonal pathways and stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one follicle per month. This increases the number of eggs exposed to sperm, thereby increasing the chance for pregnancy. IUI can be done with sperm from a donor who has been screened for diseases. Donor sperm is tested, quarantined and frozen until needed.