IUI Treatment: Indications and Contradictions

To conceive, a sperm cell have “to make a long trip” from the vagina through  the cervical canal and uterus to the uterine tubes. The only chance for sperm cell to perform his mission successfully is to get in the tube during the ovulation and meet the egg there. Usually, mucus of the cervical canal doesn’t let all the sperm cells pass into the uterus. Only few of the quickest can do this. Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI) is a special medical procedure which give an opportunity to avoid this barrier. In such a case, more sperm cells will meet the egg and due to this the possibility of conceive will increase.

What is  Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI)?

Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI) is one of the oldest and effective methods of infertility treatment according to which a man’s/donor’s specially refined sperm cell  is introduced to the uterus with a catheter. The usage of a catheter seems to be the only one unnatural moment of the whole procedure. That’s why, despite the fact that Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI) is viewed like a method of ART, it’s at most similarto the natural process of  fertilization.

What is sperm “cleaning”?

This is a special procedure conducted in the laboratory. It gives an opportunity to separate sperm cells from the sperm fluid, dead sperm cells, leucocytes, bacteriums and viruses and, at the same time, to select the sperm cells with the best morphology and mobility. Nowadays, Intrauterine  Insemination is never conducted using non-refined sperm cells as it can cause different complications.

What are the indications for Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI) usage?

There are several indications for both spouses which allow them to use Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI) with man’s or donor’s sperm cells.

For man:

• vivid azoospermia;
• ejaculatory-sexual disorders;
• unfavorable medical-genetic prognosis

For woman:

• medical-social indications (on the woman’s wish)

•  over 40;
• somatic and psychological diseases which are incompatible with pregnancy;
• disorders and pathologies of the uterus because of which it’s impossible to bear a child;
• tumors of the ovary;
• malignant neoplasms of any localization;
• pathology of uterine tubes;
• infections of genital tract;
• several unsuccessful IUI attempts;
• unclarified bleeding in the genital tracts;
• acute inflammatory disease;
• syndrome of ovary  hyperstimulation.

Possible Complications by using Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI)

Usually, Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI) doesn’t have harmful influence on your health. But, in some cases, some complications can occur. Please, look through them attentively.

• allergic reactions connected with the introduction of the medicines for ovulation stimulation;
• shock reaction for the sperm introduction into the uterus;
• uterus tonus increase;
• syndrome of ovary  hyperstimulation ;
• acute inflammation of female’s genital organs;
• polycarpous pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy.

To use Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI), both spouses should pass the following examinations and tests:

For woman:

• general and special gynecological  checkup;
• examination of the cervical canal flora; vagina purity degree;
• smear examination;
• ultrasonic examination of small pelvis organs;
• physician’s opinion on the patient’s health and possibility to bear a child;
• determination of blood-group and Rh-factor;
• clinical blood examination;
• syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C examinations  (made no more than 3 months before that);
• IgM, IgG blood count for toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, CMV and rubella

For man:

• syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C examinations  (made no more than 3 months before that);
• spermogram;
• determination of blood-group and Rh-factor;
• examination for infections.

What fertility drugs are used for Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI)?

Intrauterine Insemination can be conducted without usage of any fertility drugs which stimulate the ovulation. But, it should be remarked that in such cases the possibility of pregnancy is not really high. The numerous medical researches approve that combination of Intrauterine Insemination procedure and proper medicines which stimulate the development of hoses increase the spouses’ chances. Usually the following medicines are used: clomid, letrozole, menopur, gonal, etc. Chronionic gonadotropin which help mature eggs to leave the hose is also used.

Taking into account all the aspects connected with Intrauterine  Insemination (IUI), it’s quite clear that it’s really effective and not too much hazardous method of treatment which gives people an opportunity to fulfil such a strong desire to have children. But, on the other hand, nobody can guarantee you a successful result with 100% of assurance as it depends on several factors like the age of a woman, the duration of infertility, quality of sperm, results of all the examinations and amount of previous IUI attempts.