Curriculum · Gynecology / Women's Health / Infertility / Perinatal Care / Birth Spacing
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
What it is
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the therapeutic process of placing washed spermatozoa transcervically into the uterine cavity for the treatment of infertility. The protocol is written to provide guidelines for safe and effective treatment of infertile couples.
When it is offered
The criteria for IUI are five. 1. Moderate male factor infertility. 2. Unexplained infertility. 3. Mild to moderate endometriosis. 4. Anovulatory infertility in conjunction with ovulation induction. And fifth, physiological and psychological causes: severe hypospadias, retrograde ejaculation, impotence, vaginismus.
What must be true first
Prerequisites, all three of them: at least one fallopian tube should be patent; a pre invasive screen for the couple; and recent negative high vaginal swab and chlamydia results within 1 year. If there is active vulvovaginitis at the time of IUI, repeat the swabs and defer the procedure.