IUI is a minimally invasive procedure with little to no discomfort. Most patients describe the process as similar to a routine pelvic exam.

The procedure itself takes about 10–15 minutes, and you can resume normal activities afterward.

Sperm washing removes impurities and non-motile sperm, ensuring only the healthiest sperm are used to maximize fertilization success.

Typically, up to 3–6 cycles of IUI are recommended. If pregnancy is not achieved, treatments like IVF may be suggested.

There are a wide range of needs that may be assisted through artificial insemination procedures. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the most common type of artificial insemination and has the highest success rate.

Some of the common situations that may be assisted with artificial insemination include:

• Cervical factor infertility: Cervical mucus is either insufficient to let sperm pass or contains a substance that harms sperm.
• Endometriosis: When uterine tissue grows outside the uterus and may cause infertility, implantation failure, and miscarriage.
• Erectile dysfunction: When the inability to achieve erection prevents conventional intercourse and fertilization.
• Insufficient sperm: The man may not produce enough sperm to achieve conception.
• Lifestyle situations: Such as single women or those in same-sex relationships who wish to conceive.
• Male sterility: Some medical treatments, such as radiotherapy, may result in infertility in the man, so sperm may be obtained and frozen prior to such procedures.
• Sperm motility: So-called “lazy swimmers” may be unable to effectively move toward the egg.
• Unknown: Sometimes pregnancy doesn’t occur but there’s no observable reason why with either the female or male partner.

If a male partner has viable sperm, it will be used for the process. In the case of male sterility or no male partner, donor sperm can be used. Sperm is collected and processed to remove any components that could potentially interfere with the insemination procedure. This is called sperm washing. The prepared sperm is then placed into the uterus.

While generally a low-risk procedure, there are a few potential complications. For example, there’s a greater chance for multiple pregnancies when artificial insemination is used in combination with fertility medications. Multiple pregnancies carry their own set of potential risks. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is another risk when patients combine fertility medications and artificial insemination treatments, though it’s a rare complication. Fertility medications are typically used to enhance pregnancy rates when undergoing insemination treatment. only when endometriosis seems to interfere with conception.

If pregnancy isn’t achieved within 6 cycles of artificial insemination, additional inseminations aren’t likely to produce results, and other fertility treatment options are recommended.

Artificial insemination, as a treatment of low complexity, offers pregnancy rates lower than other assisted reproduction treatments, but higher than a sexual relationship. The chances of pregnancy depend on many factors – age, ovarian reserve, medical and reproductive history, sperm quantity and quality etc. – but you will be sure that our fertility specialists will prescribe the most appropriate personalized treatment to achieve our goal: your pregnancy.

At Global Fertility & Genetics we want to give you all the resources that you need to start your Artificial Insemination treatment.