IUI: Success Rates, Cost And The Right Candidates

Who Is A Candidate For IUI?

A full medical examination is necessary to determine if you are a good candidate for IUI. For heterosexual couples who will not be using donor sperm, that means both partners need to be evaluated. Donor sperm from commercial sperm banks is already tested.

Intrauterine Insemination can be an option in the case of:

• Unexplained infertility
• A low sperm count or decreased motility (movement) of the sperm
• Ejaculation difficulities
• Cervical scar tissue
• Hostile cervical mucus
• Using donor sperm or previously frozen sperm
• In the case of ovulation disorders, combined with ovulation-inducing medications
• Sperm washing and IUI can also help couples in which the male is HIV positive, while the female is negative

Sperm is given more advantageous conditions when it is introduced directly to the uterus, and the chances of pregnancy are boosted with this procedure. The sperm still needs to be capable of reaching the egg and fertilizing it, however. If the sperm count is very low or there are sperm quality issues, the procedure is less likely to be successful. Likewise, the egg quality needs to be good, and blocked fallopian tubes rule out IUI because the sperm won't be able to get to the egg. 

IUI Success Rates

Intrauterine Insemination is most likely to be successful if the woman is under 35 — as with natural conception. The average success rates stand between 10 and 20 percent, but the procedure has a higher chance of getting the woman pregnant if both the man and the woman are in good health and have healthy gametes. 

Before attempting IUI, couples or individuals need to take the same steps they would take if they were trying to conceive naturally. Taking 400 mg of folic acid, making any necessary lifestyle adjustments (quitting alcohol and smoking for both partners), and focusing on healthy eating and physical activity habits are steps that can be taken to boost the chances of success.

See Also: Trying To Conceive - The Basics Every Couple Must Know

The Cost Of Intrauterine Insemination

The cost of IUI is going to vary greatly depending on where you live. Those who have private health insurance or are covered by government healthcare schemes are quite likely to find that their insurance policy will cover the cost of IUI. The National Infertility Association (US) assesses that the average cost of an IUI cycle is $865, while the median cost is $350. One thing is clear: IUI is far less costly than IVF. In the case of IVF, a single cycle will inevitably cost multiple thousands of dollars.