Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility procedure that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to help achieve pregnancy. It is usually performed shortly before ovulation so the sperm can reach and fertilise an egg.
Sperm can be introduced directly into the uterus by the catheter during IUI. Singapore is one of the regions that’s incredibly popular with this type of fertility treatment, thanks to the industrial grade equipments at most clinics and the reasonable costs of the treatments.
This method of introducing sperm into the female reproductive organs is referred to as intrauterine insemination or artificial insemination. It is used for couples who have infertility problems, and this method has been proved to be effective.
Intrauterine Injection of Semen (IUI) is also called artificial insemination by husband sperm (AID). There are several techniques and methods which use assisted reproductive technology to help couples conceive children by artificial insemination.
Sperm is introduced into the uterus to facilitate fertilisation before ovulation because sperm can survive up to 5 days inside the female reproductive organs while waiting for an egg. So if you ovulate late or have irregular periods, this is one of few methods that could be helpful to achieve pregnancy.
IUI increases your chance of conception, but it doesn’t affect the future health of the baby. IUI is not a substitute for IVF (in vitro fertilisation), which may be necessary if other fertility treatments do not work. The success rate varies according to the underlying cause and duration of infertility. Most women who undergo IUI in Singapore get pregnant naturally or with assistance due to their fertility conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, or unexplained infertility issues.
There are several IUI success rates depending on your age and fertility problem. For example, if a couple has been trying for over one year to conceive naturally, they can opt for intrauterine insemination, which offers them an increased chance of pregnancy compared with not using any fertility treatment at all (around 20% success rate). So it doesn’t matter whether you have male infertility or female infertility; this method works equally well in both cases.
According to statistics, a growing number of women use artificial insemination procedures to get pregnant these days because it offers hope when natural conception fails due to possible complications like miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. The uncommon factor that can affect the success rate of IUI is your partner’s sperm quality, which has to be determined prior to the procedure. If the semen is not of adequate quality or motility, then intrauterine insemination is not recommended.
How can Increase my Chances of Successful IUI?
Even though IUI is highly effective in achieving pregnancy, there are several factors that can affect the success rate of this fertility procedure. To increase your chances of successful IUI in Singapore, there are a few adjustments that your physician may recommend. Real quick, here are seven things you may want to do to increase your chances of successful IUI:
- Stop smoking: Smoking and nicotine can affect the quality of sperms, so if you want to increase your chances for a successful IUI, then you should agree as a couple to stop smoking or at least cut-down.
- Lose weight: Obesity is not only harmful in general, but it may also cause problems when trying to conceive. If you are overweight, losing some weight before starting fertility treatment could help increase the chances of pregnancy.
- Eat Healthily: If you are trying to conceive, then it is important that you eat a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruit and vegetables. Eating a healthy diet can also help provide the necessary vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals needed for general good health as well as fertility.
- Take Folic acid: Folic acid has been proven optimal during pregnancy because it reduces the risk of major congenital disabilities. So if taking folic acid supplements before starting IUI treatment helps increase your chances of success.
- Avoid lubricants: It would be best if you don’t use lubricants during sex unless advised by your doctor; instead, use your own natural bodily fluids for the best chances of achieving pregnancy.
- Watch your cycle: If you can plan ahead, then try to time IUI for when you are ovulating (or likely to be).
- No sex before IUI: You may have heard that having an orgasm will help with conception. However, having adequate sperm cells during this procedure is more helpful than anything else. It’s therefore recommended that you stop all sexual activity on the day before IUI.
- Stay calm during procedures: Stress can affect the quality of your sperm, so staying calm during all IUI procedures could increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.
- Increase intercourse frequency: If you are not trying to conceive naturally, you should have sex every other day starting 2 or 3 days prior to ovulation because it helps sperm stay alive inside the female reproductive organs for five days.
- Schedule the procedure at the proper time: Artificial insemination is most effective when performed directly before ovulation to maximise your chances of success. The implantation window usually lasts between 6-12 hours after ovulation.
Who is a Good Candidate for IUI?
Not all couples who choose to undergo IUI can be good candidates for this fertility treatment. Some of the factors that determine whether you’re a good candidate for IUI include:
- Age: Younger women (under 35) tend to have more success with artificial insemination than older women, but there are some circumstances where even older women may still benefit from this procedure.
- Type of infertility: Couples struggling with male factor infertility or unexplained infertility could potentially benefit from intrauterine insemination.
- Duration of infertility: If couples trying to conceive haven’t been successful over six months, then they might want to consider artificial insemination as a means of getting pregnant.
- Health: As always, health status is a major factor when considering any infertility treatment, so any pre-existing medical conditions you have may also affect whether having IUI in Singapore is a good option for you.
The Bottom Line
IUI is a simple, relatively painless fertility treatment that artificially inseminates sperm into your uterus to improve your chances of achieving pregnancy. However, this procedure does not take the place of other infertility treatments, and it can help you get pregnant only if you are ovulating. IUI doesn’t guarantee success, but couples who benefit from this fertility technique tend to have significantly better chances than those using natural procreative intercourse or other alternative methods to conceive.
Advanced Centre for Reproductive Medicine – OBGYN, Gynaecologist, Fertility & Urogynaecology
6A Napier Rd, #05-35, Singapore 258500
+65 6474 3900
http://acrm.com.sg/
