Why is IUI performed?
Why is IUI performed?
People choose IUI for many reasons, such as infertility issues, or as a reproductive option for same-sex female couples or females who wish to have a baby without a partner, using a sperm donor.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be used when these conditions are present:
- Cervical mucus problems or other problems with your cervix. Your cervix separates your vagina and uterus from each other. Mucus produced by your cervix helps sperm travel from your vagina, through your uterus and to your fallopian tubes. Thick mucus can make it hard for sperm to swim. With IUI, sperm bypasses your cervix and goes directly to your uterus.
- Low sperm count or other sperm impairments. Semen analysis is part of infertility treatment. It may show that your partner’s sperm is small, weak, slow or oddly shaped, or that your partner doesn’t have much sperm. IUI can help these problems because only high-quality sperm is selected and used in your treatment.
- You’re using donor sperm. IUI is used when people use sperm from a person who isn’t the birth parent’s partner. This is called donor insemination (DI). DI is done when one partner has no sperm or when the sperm quality is so low that the sperm can’t be used. Single women or same-sex female couples who wish to conceive can also use donor sperm.
- Ejaculation or erection dysfunction. IUI can be used when one partner can’t get or sustain an erection or isn’t able to ejaculate.
- Semen allergy. In rare cases, people have an allergy to their partner’s semen. It can cause burning, swelling and redness in their vagina. IUI can be effective because the proteins causing the allergy are removed during sperm washing.
- Unexplained infertility. This is when healthcare providers can’t find the cause for infertility.