IUI, also known as Intrauterine Insemination, is a method of artificially inseminating a woman’s uterus with sperm around the phase when a woman’s ovary releases one or more eggs to become impregnated. There are a multitude of IUI procedures you can complete, and the IUI success rates of each cycle may vary depending on the age, level of sperm washing, and the amount of fertility drugs you choose to take or not consume.
Aging is fertility’s downfall.
Overall, the age of a woman plays a vital role in the success of IUI procedures. Certainly, the common knowledge is that the younger the lady, the more likely her chances are to becoming pregnant, and that is true. In fact, under certain ages, the statistical probabilities are vastly higher percentages. After one IUI cycle, a woman under thirty-five years old has a ten to twenty percent chance of pregnancy, while a forty-year old woman has a ten percent, and a woman above forty has a two to five percent probability. (Please, do not lose hope. This pregnancy stuff is fun, I assure you.)
IUI cycles can be fun.
As I said it is fun, but better than fun, is getting pregnant, right? Well check this out: The more your fallopian tubes receive sperm and transport it into your fallopian system (insemination) well, then of course the more likely you are to become pregnant. Typically, doctors say that if you have not become pregnant after about three to six IUI cycles, it is probably better to discuss other alternatives with a fertility specialist (like I said, fun stuff).
Fertility drugs are your friends.
Even grander and most fun of it all is drugs. Good drugs, the ones that help you conceive a tiny, frail, cute little beautiful baby. I’m talking about fertility drugs. The ones linked to IUI success. Doctors provide injectable medications such as follicle stimulating hormone or human menopausal gonadotropin before the IUI proceedings (I told you it was fun.) These medications should help stimulate ovulation, and then you are free to become pregnant, finally. However, if you’ve tried all this fancy jazz and nothing reproductive is happening, consult a fertility specialist.
While most people would expect Intrauterine Insemination to work on the first try, you have to be patient. Each person has a unique story when undergoing IUI, so keep this in mind if you’re about to start this process. If you’re not seeing success, don’t feel disheartened. Simply speak with your doctor to discuss alternatives and try to keep a positive mindset.