This post is for all of you who are lost in the alphabet soup that is infertility and are wondering, "What is an IUI?"
We are gearing up for an intrauterine insemination (IUI), which used to be called artificial insemination. The second generation name is more accurately descriptive, I think. My clinic calls it husband insemination to separate it from donor insemination. I get the need for the terminology, but I much rather to call and chat about an IUI then a "husband insemination." Not sure why. And that is quite off topic.
The procedure starts with a sperm sample that is washed. The sperm preparation separates the sperm from the semen and other chemicals, which helps to prevent anti-fertilization properties from being introduced into the woman. The process also removes many of the dead and slow-moving sperm so that more of the healthier sperm are introduced. The prepared sperm is then placed into the womans uterus (less common insemination procedures involve placing the sperm vaginally (IVI), cervically (ICI), or tubally (ITI)). The idea is that stronger sperm are placed closer to the egg.
IUI can be done with a natural cycle, meaning that no drugs are used to increase the number of eggs that the woman produces. IUIs can also be medicated either using oral or injectable drugs to encourage more eggs. In our case, we are starting with an oral drug, Clomid. The intention is to induce ovulation of 2 or 3 mature eggs rather than just one. This process will give the sperm more targets.
In a nutshell IUI is used to get better sperm closer to more targets, thereby increasing chances of pregnancy. How successful you think IUIs are overall depends a lot about who you're talking to and what you're reading. But in our case, our RE is suggesting a 8-12% chance of pregnancy, increased over 2-3% if we're trying on our own. As for the chance of twins, also depends who you ask: I've seen numbers as high as 10-12% on Clomid, my RE said something closer to 5%.
As for how it's going: I've taken two Clomid pills thus far. I've had no ill effects unless you count waking up burning hot last night. But I think that had more to do with the lack of air condition being turned on in the apartment than the medicine. I'm not really sure when the side effects typically kick in, but so far, so good.
-- Mya
We are gearing up for an intrauterine insemination (IUI), which used to be called artificial insemination. The second generation name is more accurately descriptive, I think. My clinic calls it husband insemination to separate it from donor insemination. I get the need for the terminology, but I much rather to call and chat about an IUI then a "husband insemination." Not sure why. And that is quite off topic.
The procedure starts with a sperm sample that is washed. The sperm preparation separates the sperm from the semen and other chemicals, which helps to prevent anti-fertilization properties from being introduced into the woman. The process also removes many of the dead and slow-moving sperm so that more of the healthier sperm are introduced. The prepared sperm is then placed into the womans uterus (less common insemination procedures involve placing the sperm vaginally (IVI), cervically (ICI), or tubally (ITI)). The idea is that stronger sperm are placed closer to the egg.
IUI can be done with a natural cycle, meaning that no drugs are used to increase the number of eggs that the woman produces. IUIs can also be medicated either using oral or injectable drugs to encourage more eggs. In our case, we are starting with an oral drug, Clomid. The intention is to induce ovulation of 2 or 3 mature eggs rather than just one. This process will give the sperm more targets.
In a nutshell IUI is used to get better sperm closer to more targets, thereby increasing chances of pregnancy. How successful you think IUIs are overall depends a lot about who you're talking to and what you're reading. But in our case, our RE is suggesting a 8-12% chance of pregnancy, increased over 2-3% if we're trying on our own. As for the chance of twins, also depends who you ask: I've seen numbers as high as 10-12% on Clomid, my RE said something closer to 5%.
As for how it's going: I've taken two Clomid pills thus far. I've had no ill effects unless you count waking up burning hot last night. But I think that had more to do with the lack of air condition being turned on in the apartment than the medicine. I'm not really sure when the side effects typically kick in, but so far, so good.
-- Mya