Success Rate of IUI Treatment – What to expect after IUI

What is IUI?

IUI, a kind of artificial insemination, is a reproductive procedure in which sperm is injected directly into a woman's uterus. When your ovary produces one or more eggs to be fertilised, cleaned, and concentrated sperm is directly inserted into your uterus. Doctors usually use IUI before more intensive and expensive reproductive treatments. IUI can be carried out using the sperm of your spouse or donor sperm. IUI raises healthy pregnancy rates and smooth delivery.

Who are the good candidates for IUI?

To improve the chances of IUI success rate, a woman cannot have two obstructed fallopian tubes. Atleast one must be open. Also, she needs a regular supply of eggs that are in good health. She could furthermore have one or more of the following conditions:

1. Complications with cervical mucus that can stop sperm from reaching the egg.
2. Undiagnosed infertility.
3. Coital problems or dysfunctional sexual behaviour. The inability of a male partner to get an erection or a sperm allergy are two examples.
4. Irregular ovulation
5. Moderate endometriosis.
6. A male partner who is mildly infertile due to the male factor, such as having low sperm counts or sperm motility.
7. Women who desire to use a sperm donor who is not a partner.

What is the IUI Process?

There can be modest variations across treatment programmes and healthcare providers. The following are typical components of IUI treatment:

1. Ovulation Period

Your doctor will need to know the precise day and time of your ovulation. With the use of an at-home ovulation prediction test that detects luteinizing hormone, the timing of ovulation may be ascertained. Moreover, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections and other fertility drugs are sometimes used to induce the release of one or multiple eggs from the ovary.

2. Preparing a sample of sperm

On the day of the IUI, your spouse gives a new sperm sample. The sample will be prepared and thawed if you're utilising donated sperm. Next, using a procedure known as "sperm washing," which concentrates healthy sperm, the sample is made ready for insemination.

3. Artificial Insemination

Your doctor directly inserts the sperm into your uterus. If your egg is fertilised by sperm and then implants in the lining of your uterus, pregnancy results. A pregnancy test can be performed about two weeks following IUI.

Facts About the Success Rates of IUI

IUI is a basic, low-tech process that can potentially be less costly than other forms of reproductive treatment. The success rate of IUI treatment is quite high, but since every person's body is unique, there is no guarantee that IUI will be successful for everyone. There are several parameters that influence IUI success rates. Some of them are:

1. Age

Age has a significant impact on the success rate of the IUI procedure. Your chances of getting pregnant decrease as you get older because your eggs are of poorer quality. Among those under 35, the success rate of IUI is 13%. The success rate of IUI is 13% for people under 35. However, it ranges from 3 to 9% for those over 40.

2. Number of Follicles

Medication-assisted ovarian stimulation aims to boost follicle development so that more eggs are available for fertilisation, hence increasing the chances of conception that month. Your chances of getting pregnant go up to a degree when you have more follicles. Studies show that multi-follicular formation enhances the chance of conception during IUI with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Be mindful, though, since having more follicles increases your likelihood of conceiving twins, triplets, etc.

3. Type of Fertility drug used

To stimulate the follicles to generate more eggs, fertility medications are typically coupled with IUI cycles, albeit not always. The success rates of IUI are influenced by drug use frequency, kind, and dosage. Similarly, your medical history, factors causing unexplained infertility, diagnosis, and preferences will influence your fertility doctor's recommendations.

What are the general success rates with IUI?

An open fallopian tube, a healthy uterus, a good egg count, and a healthy sperm count are all indicators of conventional fertility. Your success rate fluctuates between 7% and 10% per cycle if you are in this category.

If fertility drugs are added to the treatment, the success rates might increase to 15% to 25%.

According to data, IUI has a 10% success rate in the first cycle for couples under the age of 35. This proportion can rise to 20% depending on circumstances, such as whether or not the mother has taken hormone therapy. 

Having sperm that is healthy or marginally normal and capable of producing a child when male factor infertility is present, IUI has a 16.8% success rate.

What factors determine IUI success rates?

If you are looking for how to improve IUI success rates, here are a few factors that can determine IUI success rates:

1. Quantity of sperm present in the semen - It is essential to have a higher concentration of sperm in the sperm sample that will be used in the IUI procedure.

2. Having sex after IUI - Although it might seem unnecessary to have sex after IUI, research has shown that it may increase the chance of getting pregnant.

3. Medium or less strenuous exercise - It is suggested to choose less strenuous exercises like walking, swimming, or yoga when undergoing infertility treatments like IUI. Although regular exercise is very beneficial for overall health, it has been demonstrated that vigorous exercise decreases reproductive levels.

4. Healthy diet - A good diet may help with infertility treatments. Choose whole meals instead of processed ones. 

5. Stress - Stress affects nearly every organ and system in the body. Meditation, walking, or simple breathing methods can help you to reduce your anxiety while receiving IUI treatment.

What is the success rate of IUI on the first try?

The IUI cycle's success rate is generally between 10 and 20 per cent on the first attempt. To increase the odds of conception, it is recommended that most couples undergo at least 3 IUI cycles.

Is it normal for the first IUI to fail?

It is absolutely normal for the first IUI to fail. Endometriosis, low sperm quality, diminished ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, etc., are some of the major causes of unsuccessful IUI. The likelihood of becoming pregnant increases with the number of tries.

How can you increase your chances of successful IUI?

IUI has a success rate of 10% to 30%. Certain things can help increase the chances of conception using an IUI treatment with a high success rate. Even after opting for IUI, many women wonder what to do after IUI for success. Here are the tips for successful IUI:

1.  Following IUI treatment, it is strongly advised to keep up a healthy, balanced diet. Successful fertilisation depends on strong physical and mental health.
    
2. After intrauterine insemination IUI treatment, it is vital to keep in close contact with your fertility specialist. Make sure you're contacting the correct individual for therapy and some success tips, as professionals may recommend the best ways to conceive.
    
3. A good sleep after intrauterine insemination is critical for the mother and the unborn child. IUI and IVF professionals advise sleeping for at least 7-8 hours per night.
    
4. Decrease your caffeine intake from coffee, tea, or other sources. Also, excessive caffeine use should be avoided if you don't want to lower your chance of success when it comes to getting pregnant.
    
5. The best thing to do is to exercise. Moderate exercise is advised for IUI by IVF experts.

Is IUI 100% successful?

There is no guarantee of 100% success in the IUI procedure, as its success depends on the various factors we discussed above. IUI success rates range from 7% to 10% every cycle if you have two fallopian tubes and good-quality, healthy sperm. Your success rate improves by 15–25% if you combine IUI therapy with fertility drugs.

Why is the success rate of IUI so low?

In some situations where there are issues with sperm quality, intrauterine insemination is successful. The likelihood of conception with IUI, however, is substantially reduced if the total motile count at the moment of insemination is fewer than 5 million. Success is improbable if there are less than 1 to 5 million motile sperm.

How Indira IVF can help you improve your IUI success rate?

One of the leading IVF clinics offering fertility treatment services in India is Indira IVF. Indira IVF's advanced equipment, modern facilities, and skilled fertility specialists may assist you in creating a lovely family. To know more about our IUI treatment, process, cost & success rates, call 18003092323.