IUI / Artificial Insemination

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, is a procedure used to assist patients in their efforts to achieve a pregnancy. This procedure involves placing a known quantity of “washed” sperm into the uterus with a fine catheter. At least one fallopian tube must be open because after being placed into the uterus the sperm must swim the length of the fallopian tube and fertilize the egg at the distal end of the fallopian tube. The goal of the IUI procedure is to present a high concentration of motile sperm into the uterus to facilitate the union of an egg with a sperm in the fallopian tubes. The IUI procedure can be used in a number of different situations. Some examples are couples with unexplained infertility, patients with low sperm concentration or motility or patients with thick cervical mucus or any other conditions involving the cervix. Most couples use the IUI procedure in conjunction with fertility medications. The goal of fertility medications is to provide additional eggs for the sperm. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), is often administered to trigger the release of eggs from the follicles to time the IUI procedure.