What do you do to prepare for IUI treatment?

Your healthcare provider will need to know exactly when you’re ovulating. The timing of ovulation is critical to make sure sperm is injected at the right time.
Determining the time of ovulation can be done using an at-home ovulation prediction kit that detects luteinizing hormone (LH). Your healthcare provider can also detect LH in blood tests. They may also use transvaginal ultrasound to look for signs mature eggs. Sometimes, you’re given an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or other fertility medications to make you ovulate one or more eggs. Ovulation typically occurs around 10 to 16 days after the first day of your period.
Insemination (inserting the sperm into your uterus) usually occurs within 24 to 36 hours after LH is detected (either in your blood or urine), or after the hCG injection.

Your partner provides a fresh sperm sample on the day of the IUI procedure. In some cases, your partner can provide the sample before and your healthcare provider can freeze it until it is time to be used. If you’re using a sperm donor, the sample will be thawed and prepared.
Sperm is prepared for insemination through a process called “sperm washing” that pulls out a concentrated amount of healthy sperm. If you’re using donor sperm, the sperm bank usually sends sperm that’s already washed.

The insemination procedure is simple and takes just a few minutes. You’ll lie down on the exam table. Your healthcare provider will insert a speculum into your vagina — similar to what happens during a Pap test. Next, a catheter is inserted through your cervix into your uterus. Finally, your healthcare provider injects the washed sperm sample into your uterus.
You may be asked to lie down for 10 to 30 minutes after insemination. Pregnancy happens if sperm fertilizes an egg and the fertilized egg implants in the lining of your uterus.
You may be given progesterone after IUI. Progesterone helps maintain the lining of your uterus and can improve the chances of implantation.
You can take a pregnancy test approximately two weeks after IUI.

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