Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
The Science of Artificial Insemination
Intrauterine insemination, also known as artificial insemination, can be a great option for couples who are struggling with infertility, and it’s also a means of fertilization with donor sperm.
Depending on your diagnosis, we may recommend several IUI attempts before jumping into IVF.
Defining IUI
In simplest terms, IUI is a procedure that places sperm directly inside your uterus, with the goal of getting healthy sperm closer to an egg. It’s short, painless, and can be done at our clinic.
IUI Candidates
IUI may be an option for mild cases of male factor infertility, as well as for women who are experiencing:
- Tubal blockage or damage
- Ovarian failure
- Ovulation problems (PCOS)
- Severe endometriosis
- Unexplained infertility
- Cervical factor infertility
Individuals or couples using donor sperm may undergo IUI. Donor sperm is a good option when a male partner isn’t present, or where male factor infertility is preventing pregnancy. At AFCC, we partner with fully licensed, highly accredited sperm banks, whose screening steps meet well-established standards. Donors are heavily screened for medical conditions and other physical, emotional and psychological risk factors.
The Process
On the day of the procedure, when ovulation is imminent, a speculum is placed in the vagina and the cervical area is gently cleaned. The washed specimen of highly motile sperm is placed in the uterus using a sterile, flexible catheter. There should be little or no discomfort.
Although the sperm has been put above the vagina and cervix and shouldn’t leak when you stand up, many clinics offer for the woman to remain lying down for a few minutes after the procedure.
IUI is performed by placing specially prepared semen directly into the patient’s uterus using a speculum and catheter so that the sperm can complete the rest of its journey towards the egg. In IUI, fertilization and blastocyst development occur within the body, similar to a traditional pregnancy. In IVF, fertilization takes place outside of the body in a laboratory; eggs and sperm are retrieved from the parents and/or donors and combined together so that the sperm can fertilize the egg, forming a blastocyst embryo. After a few days of development, the resulting blastocyst is transferred to the recipient’s uterus.
IUI procedures are scheduled to be performed during the ovulation phase of a menstrual cycle. As such, it takes about two weeks before a pregnancy test will accurately reveal whether or not the procedure was successful. During this time, it’s recommended that patients not use at-home pregnancy tests, as they can sometimes yield misleading results.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a self-administered injection that acts as a trigger to start an ovulation cycle
The IUI procedure is relatively quick and minimally invasive. In terms of discomfort, it is often compared to a standard Pap smear. The entire procedure takes approximately two minutes to complete.
IUI Cost
Sperm Washing and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- IUI with partner sperm (includes sperm wash and insemination procedure): $550
- IUI with donor sperm (includes sperm wash/handling and insemination procedure): $650
Please note that monitoring visits are not included.
Clomid with Insemination Cycle Packages
- Clomid cycle with partner sperm (includes all bloodwork and ultrasounds for monitoring the cycle): $1,750
- Clomid cycle with donor sperm (includes all bloodwork and ultrasounds for monitoring the cycle – the cost of donor sperm is not included): $1,850
Injectable with Insemination Cycle Packages
- Injectable cycle with partner sperm insemination package (includes all bloodwork and ultrasounds for monitoring the cycle): $2,800
- Injectable cycle with donor sperm insemination package (includes all bloodwork and ultrasounds for monitoring the cycle – the cost of donor sperm is not included): $2,900
Please note that all prices and packages do not include medication costs, pre-screening testing, or pregnancy testing/monitoring, and are subject to change.
