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UI Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Home Reproductive Endocrinology-Evaluation and Treatment Pediatric/Adolescent Gynecology Clinic Center for Advanced Reproductive Care - In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) SART Iowa Reproductive Testing Laboratory Education Center Patients Providers Research
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Insemination: Information for Couples
Intrauterine insemination with washed semen, abbreviated IUI, is a technique that places prepared sperm directly into the uterus. During intercourse, sperm are placed in the vagina, travel through the cervical mucus into the uterus and then into the fallopian tubes where conception occurs. IUI bypasses the vagina and cervix where many sperm are otherwise lost, thus the number of sperm available to fertilize an egg should be greatly increased. To prepare sperm for IUI, a semen sample is obtained. The semen, or liquid part of the sample, is separated from the sperm. During this process, the sperm are "washed" and re-suspended in specially prepared solutions. This process concentrates the sperm and also removes irritants to the uterus contained in semen, making IUI safer and more comfortable than it would be with unprocessed sperm. Intrauterine insemination may be of benefit to couples with:
Success rates will vary with the couple's original diagnosis and the number of cycles of IUI. The pregnancy rate per cycle of insemination is eight to 10 percent. The pregnancy rate may be as high as 30 percent in couples undergoing three to six cycles of IUI. The use of fertility medication increases the chance of pregnancy.
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