IUI - What is it?
IUI is the process of placing washed and processed sperm (best and most motile sperms) in the woman’s uterus around ovulation.
How is IUI different from IVF?
In IVF the ovum and the sperm are fertilised outside of the body of the women, in a lab and then the embryo thus formed is placed in the uterus.
In IUI the fertilisation takes place in the womb itself. Only the sperm from the husband is washed, processed and placed inside the uterus around the time egg is released from the ovaries.
Why would one need IUI?
IUI will increase the chances of getting pregnant if the couple has any of the below mentioned problems:
- Anovulation in the women
- Husband has borderline low motile sperm count or motility. But with a Total motile sperm count (TMSC) more than 5 million / ml.
- The female partner has Endometriosis
- Having intercourse is difficult due to anejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, premature ejaculation, vaginismus etc.
- Mild Endometriosis.
However one needs to understand that for a couple to conceive with IUI , the fallopian tube needs to be patent. Hence sometimes we do a test for the patency of fallopian tubes called Hysterosalphingography (HSG).