Insemination (IUI)
Insemination is based on the transfer of sperm cells to the expectant mother by making them of higher quality under laboratory conditions.
What is Insemination?
Insemination (IUI) is based on the transfer of sperm cells to the expectant mother by making them of higher quality under laboratory conditions. The aim is to allow the sperm to be deposited closer to the egg and reach the egg more easily. Before starting the insemination (IUI) treatment, couples should try every way to get pregnant through normal ways. If the couples cannot have the child they want after having unprotected and regular intercourse for 1 year, the insemination method is started as a result of the tests. The grafting method is an extremely fast and simple method. Depending on the development of medicine and advanced technology, a painless procedure awaits the expectant mother with the help of an advanced catheter. The father's sperm is delivered to the mother's uterus with the help of a highly developed catheter and fertilization is expected to occur.
There are some criteria and conditions for the application of the insemination method. There must be sperm production in the male and egg production in the female. Otherwise, the vaccination process will not take place because fertilization cannot occur. The results of the treatment are also expected from the couples undergoing infertility treatment. At the stage of infertility treatment, the insemination treatment method is not applied to couples. It is also very important that the necessary tests have been carried out in both the mother and father-to-be before insemination. A negativity that can be seen in these tests also affects whether the insemination is done or not. If there is any problem in the mother and father-to-be and insemination is done, the treatment will not give results. This situation negatively affects the parents psychologically. For these reasons, in order for the insemination treatment to give a definite result, the examinations before the insemination should be done by the doctor. For example, the tubes of the expectant mother should be evaluated with HSH (medicated uterine film), and it should be ensured that they are normal.
Who Is Insemination (IUI) Recommended For?
- In cases of unexplained infertility
- Men with less sperm count and motility than normal
- To women with a difference in cervix secretion
- For couples where normal sexual intercourse is not possible (for psychological reasons such as vaginismus)
- For men with erection problems
- Women with antibodies that cause the destruction of sperm cells
- Women with moderate endometriosis
- For men with anatomical penile dysfunction
The success of the vaccination depends on the age of the woman, the duration of infertility, the patency of the tubes, the presence and severity of the male factor. Insemination is a treatment with limited success if there is a serious male factor (cases where the motile sperm count is below 39 million/mL) and ovarian reserve is low, and in vitro fertilization treatment should be preferred in these cases. Pregnancy rates with insemination are around 5%. It is recommended to inseminate 15-3 times at most. Couples who cannot conceive should be directed to IVF treatment.
Insemination (IUI) Treatment Process
Before deciding to inseminate, both of the couples are tested for infertility. If ovulation induction (stimulation of the ovaries) is to be performed, egg cell development is determined by supplementing with appropriate drugs and by serial ultrasonography. When this cell or cells reach a sufficient size, a cracking needle is made. Ideally, it is recommended to inseminate 32 – 36 hours after injection.
The man must not have had any sexual intercourse or ejaculation for at least 3 days before the day of insemination. On the day of the procedure, the man gives a semen sample at the clinic. The preferred method for this is masturbation. The semen sample obtained is prepared after being treated with certain chemical substances and made ready for insemination. The woman lies in the gynecological examination position. Speculum is inserted, after cleaning with physiological saline, the appropriate catheter is advanced through the cervix into the uterus. The semen drawn into the syringe is slowly and carefully introduced into the uterus through this catheter. If there is no menstruation within 2 weeks after insemination, a pregnancy test is performed.
As a result of the positive test, pregnancy follow-ups are started appropriately. Insemination can provide an increase of 5-20% compared to normal intercourse, depending on the cause of infertility. The chance increases slightly as the number of applications increases. Although there is no theoretical limit, it is not necessary because it is not helpful to try more than 6-7 times. If the age factor and the duration of infertility increase, direct in vitro fertilization and microinjection can be started even before insemination is attempted.
