Intrauterine Insemination
Intrauterine insemination or IUI is the first step with many infertility issues. It is also called artificial insemination. The donor insemination is done using fresh donor semen.
An intrauterine insemination is a very low tech form of fertility treatment. If you have a birth plan and use or plan to use fertility drugs you will increase the number of eggs and that will increase the chances of getting pregnant, but fertility drugs do increase the likely hood of a multiple birth.
A healthy fertile couple in their mid-20s, having regular intercourse, have a 20% chance of conceiving each month once they have a birth plan. Approximately 85-90% of the couples trying for a baby will conceive within a year, this means that the other 10-15% of the population will have infertility issues.
In a natural cycle, you will use a ovulation predictor kit. When you detect an LH surge you will be instructed to contact the fertility clinic for further instructions. They will tell you when and how to collect fresh donor semen. Depending on the fertility clinic you may be required to collect the sperm sample in the office.
A donor insemination is a procedure in which semen is processed and the concentrated sperm are placed into the uterus using a small catheter. Unwashed sperm must not be placed in the uterus as severe allergic reactions can occur.
On the day of the donor insemination the provider of the fresh donor semen produces a sample. The sperm are washed and ideally a intrauterine insemination should be performed within 6 hours either side of ovulation.
The intrauterine insemination procedure involves a speculum being inserted into the woman's vagina and a catheter with a syringe containing the concentrated sperm is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. The sperm are injected and the catheter and the speculum are removed.
Who Can Use This Treatment?
Lesbian moms who want another child or who may wish to have their first. Healthy woman under 40 who have a normal ovulation cycle, open fallopian tubes and a normal uterine cavity and if they have a partner or husband he will need to have no health issues regarding sperm. Unfortunately if you are a woman who has damaged fallopian tubes, has poor egg quality or who is menopausal it is not advisable to try intrauterine insemination as the chances of conceiving are low.
Advice
It is stating the obvious but it does help if you are healthy. Try some healthy eating recipes instead of processed food from the super market. Get yourself checked for gluten sensitivity. Think outside the square, you know yourself better than anyone else. It could be something out of left field like gluten sensitivity that is causing problems for you.
Talk to friends and family members particularly others who have had problems getting pregnant and do not disregard a drunken night of debauchery with your other half, you never know it just might be what is required in your particular case.
As well as intrauterine insemination there are three other types of artificial insemination and they are intratubal insemination, intracervical insemination and intravaginal insemination.
Before you even think about an intrauterine insemination program it is advisable to have a fertility test.