Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) using the partner's or donor sperm is often a viable option for couples experiencing infertility. IUI requires that the female produce and ovulate viable eggs that travel unimpeded through the fallopian tubes and are capable of being fertilized by sperm. IUI is sometimes used as a "first line" infertility treatment in combination with ovulation inducing medications such as clomiphene citrate (Clomid), Letrozole (Femara), or FSH (Gonal - F or Follistim ).

Indications for IUI include:

• low sperm count,
• decreased sperm motility,
• low sperm morphology,
• poor cervical mucous 
• antisperm antibodies in either male or female, and / or
• unexplained infertility.
• IUI is a minimally invasive procedure that requires only a few minutes to perform. Sperm are prepared in the lab by washing/centrifugation or other techniques as appropriate.

In cases of moderate to severe male factor infertility, IVF is the first treatment of choice. Per cycle, success rates with IVF are usually higher than IUI, and many patients opt for IVF as the first line treatment. IUI is less expensive per cycle than IVF, meaning some patients can afford more attempts; however, statistically the chance of conception from two IVF attempts is higher than IUI.