IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
Prepared sperm placed directly into the uterus around ovulation - a simpler first step than IVF.
Stay
Day care
Duration
About 15-30 minutes
Anaesthesia
Not required
About IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
Intrauterine insemination places prepared sperm directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation, shortening the distance sperm must travel. It is a less involved treatment than IVF and is often considered first where the fallopian tubes are open.
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about iui (intrauterine insemination). Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest iui (intrauterine insemination).
- Mild male factor infertility
- Unexplained infertility
- Difficulties with ovulation, alongside medication
- Couples preferring a less invasive first treatment
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Cycle monitoring
Scans track follicle growth so the insemination can be timed to ovulation.
Sample preparation
A semen sample is prepared in the laboratory to concentrate healthy, motile sperm.
Insemination
A thin catheter places the prepared sample into the uterus. Most people describe it as similar to a smear test.
Follow-up
A pregnancy test is arranged after the interval your specialist advises.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Tubal patency must be confirmed before treatment
- Cycle tracking scans to time the procedure
- A semen sample is prepared in the laboratory on the day
- No fasting or anaesthetic is needed
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- The procedure takes a few minutes and you can go home the same day
- Normal activity can be resumed straight away
- Light spotting or cramping for a day is not unusual
- A pregnancy test is arranged about two weeks later
Why choose Humayun?
What you can expect from us, whichever department you come in through.
Experienced specialists
Consultants who perform these procedures routinely, not occasionally.
Everything on one campus
Theatres, critical care, diagnostics and pharmacy in the same building, so care is not split across sites.
Safety you can check
Infection control, consent and clinical protocols audited against national accreditation standards.
In-house diagnostics
Laboratory and imaging on site, so results reach your doctor the same day rather than after a referral.
Clear about cost
You are told what a treatment involves and what it is likely to cost before you consent to it.
Support around the clock
A 24×7 emergency department and critical care units, whatever time you need us.
Your Health Matters
Take the next step towards better healthcare.
Connect with our experienced specialists and find the right care for you and your family.
More in Fertility & IVF
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)
Fertilisation carried out in our in-house embryology laboratory, followed by embryo transfer.
Fertility Assessment
Investigation of both partners to establish why conception has not happened, before any treatment is recommended.
Ovulation Induction
Medication to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg, for women who ovulate irregularly or not at all.
ICSI
A single sperm injected directly into an egg during IVF, used where sperm count, motility or shape is the problem.
Embryo Culture
The days in the laboratory between fertilisation and transfer, where embryos are grown and assessed.
Blastocyst Culture
Growing embryos to day five before transfer, which allows the strongest to be identified more reliably.
Embryo Transfer
Placing the embryo into the uterus, a brief outpatient procedure needing no anaesthetic.
Male Infertility Assessment
Investigation of the male partner, which is involved in roughly half of couples and is frequently skipped.
Semen Analysis
Laboratory assessment of sperm count, movement and shape, the first and most useful test in male fertility.
Fertility Counselling
Support through the emotional and practical side of fertility treatment, which most couples find harder than the medicine.