IUI (intrauterine insemination) United Arab Emirates

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is one of the most commonly used Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) to treat infertility. It is the process of placing washed sperms, through the cervix, into the uterine cavity. The IUI procedure bypasses the cervix and places sperms directly into the uterus, closer to the fallopian tubes, around the time of ovulation. This way, there is a better chance that more sperm will make their way and reach the egg. In practice this is usually combined with Controlled Ovarian Hyper-stimulation so that there is more than one egg available for fertilization.

IUI can be done in a natural cycle or in conjunction with controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation. Follicular growth is monitored by ultra-sound at regular intervals and the trigger injection is given once the follicles have reached the required size. IUI is performed near the time of ovulation. The semen sample is “washed” in the laboratory, to concentrate the sperm and remove the seminal fluid (seminal fluid can cause severe cramping in the woman). This process usually takes 90 minutes to complete. The IUI procedure is relatively simple and only takes a few minutes. The woman lies on an IUI bed and the clinician inserts a speculum into her vagina to see her cervix. An IUI catheter (soft narrow silicone tube) is inserted through the cervix into the uterus and the washed semen sample is slowly injected into the upper uterine cavity.