Іntrauterine insemination

The essence of intrauterine insemination (IUI) is that specially prepared sperm is injected directly into the womb of a woman. After that everything happens just like with  a natural conception: sperm reach the egg cell through the fallopian tubes and fertilize it. The effectiveness of IUI can range from 2% to 40%, with an average of no more than 15%.

Insemination is not carried out in case of blockage of the fallopian tubes or when the fallopian tubes patency is not sufficient. For such patients in vitro fertilization (IVF) is suggested. The benefit of infertility treatment with the IUI method is that it is closest to natural conception.

There are two types of intrauterine inseminations:

  • With partner’s sperm
  • With donor’s sperm ( in case of absence of spermatozoons in partner’s semen or risk of genetic problem)

Which kind of IUI is the most optimal for you depends on your partner’s sperm count.

Indications for conducting of IUI with partner’s sperm

For men

  • subfertile sperm
  • ejaculatory-sperm disorders
  • retrograde ejaculation
  • hypospadias (pathology of penis anatomy)
  • hypospermia (low volume of ejaculate)
  • high viscosity of the seminal plasma
  • antisperm antibodies
  • the use of cryopreserved semen

For women

  • unexplained infertility
  • cervical infertility factor
  • the presence of antisperm antibodies
  • treatable ovulatory dysfunction
  • semen allergy
  • vaginism

Reasons for conducting IUI with donor’s sperm

For men

  • Severe form of oligoastenoteratozoospermia, azoospermia
  • Ejaculatory-sexual disorders
  • Adverse medical-genetic prognosis

For women

  • Medical and social indications (at woman’s request)

Contraindications

  • somatic and psychological diseases that can affect pregnancy and childbirth;
  • congenital malformations or acquired deformities of the uterine cavity in which implantation of embryos or pregnancy is impossible;
  • ovarian tumors;
  • benign uterine tumors that require surgery;
  • acute inflammatory processes of any localization;
  • malignant neoplasms of any localization, including those in anamnesis.

Examinations required for intrauterine insemination

  • Gynecological examinations with smear test and cytology
  • Confirmation of the fallopian tubes patency by echosalpingography (under ultrasound control, performed on the 9th to 12th day of the menstrual cycle) or by metrosalpingography (x-ray of tubes)
  • Blood test for sex hormone levels – FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, AMG (is checked on 2nd or 3rd day of the menstrual cycle) and progesterone (is checked on 21st day of the menstrual cycle)
  • Folliculometry and ovulation monitoring (performed from 7th -9th day of the menstrual cycle) , AMG (is checked on the 2nd or 3rd day of the menstrual cycle) and progesterone (is checked on the 21st day of the menstrual cycle)
  • Blood test for hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis

When using partner’s sperm for IUI the sperm count must meet the existing requirements – not less than 10 million sperm in 1 ml of ejaculate, the index of maturity when conducting the HBA-test (Hyaluronan binding assay) not less than 60.

Dr. Ihor Palyha

Dr. Ihor Palyha

Director. Honored Doctor of Ukraine. Member of the Presidium of the Ukrainian Association of Reproductive Medicine

Dr. Lyubov Mykhaylyshyn

Dr. Lyubov Mykhaylyshyn

Head of IVF department. Fertility specialist. CNR of Ukraine in ESHRE

Dr. Lidiya Segedii

Dr. Lidiya Segedii

Сandidate of medical sciences. Ultrasound specialist. Fertility specialist. Obstetrician-gynaecologist of the highest category

Dr. Yuliya Bosiak

Dr. Yuliya Bosiak

Fertility specialist. Obstetrician-gynaecologis

Dr. Svitlana Zinovjeva

Dr. Svitlana Zinovjeva

Fertility specialist. Obstetrician-gynaecologis

Dr. Ivanna Korchynska

Dr. Ivanna Korchynska

Head doctor of the clinic. Obstetrician-gynaecologist of the highest category Ultrasound specialist

Dr. Anastasja Volodko

Dr. Anastasja Volodko

Gynecologist. Professor of the Department of Oncology and Radiology in Danylo Halytskyi Lviv Scientific Medical University. Doctor of the highest category

Dr. Anna Kostja

Dr. Anna Kostja

Obstetrician-gynaecologist of the highest category

Dr. Roxolana Purpura

Dr. Roxolana Purpura

Obstetrician-gynaecologist of the highest category. Ultrasound specialist

Dr. Alla Konyk

Dr. Alla Konyk

Obstetrician-gynaecologis

Dr. Olga Dragush

Dr. Olga Dragush

Ultrasound specialist

Dr. Tatjana Pivovarova

Dr. Tatjana Pivovarova

Obstetrician-gynaecologis. Aesthetic-gyneacologist. Ultrasound specialist

Dr. Sergij Kryshtafovych

Dr. Sergij Kryshtafovych

Obstetrician-gynaecologist of the highest category

Dr.  Iryna Levytska

Dr. Iryna Levytska

Dermatologist. Cosmetologist