IUI is an effective and affordable treatment for infertility
IUI, or intrauterine insemination, is a first-line fertility treatment for many people who struggle to conceive on their own. Our Los Angeles fertility specialists commonly perform this affordable and relatively simple procedure. It is an excellent option for couples with infertility, as well as for single women and lesbian couples who need donor sperm to conceive.
During an IUI cycle, our IVF laboratory washes and prepares a sample of the male partner’s or the donor’s sperm, so only healthy, motile sperm remain. One of our Los Angeles fertility specialists then inserts the sperm through a thin catheter passed through the cervix to directly deposit the sperm into the patient’s uterus around the time of ovulation. Doing so increases the odds of conception for infertile patients.
To time the procedure perfectly, the female patient will either use an ovulation predictor kit at home, or come to the office to have blood tests and sonograms to monitor her hormone levels and ovaries. To prompt ovulation and allow for optimal timing, some women will take fertility medications in combination with intrauterine insemination.
Who needs IUI?
Our Los Angeles fertility specialists will perform fertility testing on a patient to determine if she is a candidate for IUI. The female partner must undergo testing to confirm that her Fallopian tubes are open and unblocked, which will allow the eggs and sperm to meet. Our team will also use blood tests and a sonogram of the ovaries and uterus to estimate a woman’s remaining egg supply and detect any structural uterine abnormalities.
If a male partner is supplying the sperm, he must undergo a semen analysis to determine how many healthy, motile, normally shaped sperm he has.
IUI, often referred to as artificial insemination, is an effective treatment option for several causes of infertility.
- Unexplained infertility
- Mild to moderate male factor infertility
- Diminished ovarian reserve
- Advanced female age
- Lesbian couples or single women using donor sperm
- As an adjunct in women with ovulation disorders like irregular menstrual cycles or polycystic ovarian syndrome
For couples with severe male factor infertility, or women with blocked Fallopian tubes, premature ovarian insufficiency or an age-related decline in egg supply, our Los Angeles fertility specialists may recommend treatment with IVF.
Step 1: Fertility testing
To determine which fertility treatment will be most effective for you, the first step is comprehensive fertility testing for both partners. Based on your test results, your fertility specialist will create a treatment plan designed to help you achieve your family-building goals as quickly and affordably as possible.
To learn more about IUI and fertility testing, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our Los Angeles fertility specialists.