What is IUI?

Intrauterine insemination, sometimes called artificial insemination, is a procedure where sperm is inserted directly into a woman’s uterus through a narrow tube. IUI may be indicated in couples where the male partner has a low or abnormal sperm count because the semen can be processed in a procedure called sperm washing. Sperm washing separates healthy, motile (moving) sperm from the rest of the semen material. The healthy sperm are then concentrated and combined with a special fluid that is suitable for the IUI procedure. For some types of male infertility, a couple may require a sperm donor. A sperm donor would also be needed for same-sex female couples who wish to become pregnant. In these cases the donor sperm can be inserted into the woman’s uterus through IUI.

IUI is often used with ovulation stimulation and is a common treatment for women who have difficulty ovulating. Medications are used to allow a woman to ovulate, or produce an egg. The IUI is then timed so that the sperm will be in the right place when ovulation occurs. IUI is an office procedure that is similar to a routine pelvic exam. A speculum is inserted into the vagina so that the cervix can be visualized and then the narrow tube is inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity where the processed sperm is inserted. Because the sperm have to travel to the fallopian tubes, a woman has to have at least one undamaged, open tube for IUI. If a woman’s tubes are damaged or blocked then it would be recommended for a woman to undergo IVF.