IUI: Intra-Uterine Insemination
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is one of the first fertility treatment options to consider for many patients because it is less invasive and less costly than other treatments. Also called artificial insemination, this procedure involves placing sperm directly into a woman’s uterus when she is ovulating to aid fertilization and help achieve pregnancy.
At Mid-Iowa Fertility, our IUI process is designed to simplify your patient experience while providing you with extraordinary care. Our standard procedures for every patient involve advanced laboratory techniques to improve your chances of success. As a private clinic, our patients can receive IUI seven days a week (including weekends and holidays) at our convenient office location.
Who Should Consider IUI?
IUI treatment is often used to treat infertility in patients with unexplained infertility, issues with ovulation, mild endometriosis, and male factor infertility. IUI may also be the best first step for couples using donor sperm, such as single women, same sex female couples, or couples who wish to avoid passing on a genetic condition. The best way to find out if IUI is right for you is to meet with one of our fertility specialists to evaluate your health and assess your treatment options. Schedule your consultation today.
IUI Success Rates
IUI success rates are encouraging in patients who are good candidates for this treatment. Your individual success with IUI will vary depending on your age and reason for seeking treatment, as well as other factors, such as the fertility medications used for the procedure. Repetition can also increase your chances of success (studies indicate that most successful IUIs occur within 3-4 attempts). Our experienced team of fertility specialists will work with you to assess your personal chances of success and determine the best treatment plan to help you meet your family-building goals.
Our IUI Process
- Monitoring & Stimulation: IUI is also often combined with superovulation medicine to increase the number of available eggs (and your chances of achieving pregnancy). Because timing of IUI is essential, ovulation must be carefully monitored. We give patients the option to monitor at our clinic or in the convenience of your own home with our easy-to-use ovulation predictor kit. If you choose to use a trigger shot (hormone medication to stimulate the final phase of ovulation), you will administer this approximately 36 hours before your IUI procedure.
- Sperm Collection & Preparation: IUI can use sperm from a male partner or a donor. Fresh sperm samples can be collected in our clinic or at home (and dropped off on the day of the procedure). Frozen sperm will be thawed in advance and all our sperm samples are then washed using a 3-step gradient sperm wash to improve sperm motility and increase your chances of achieving pregnancy.
- Insemination Procedure: IUI is a relatively simple outpatient procedure that takes just minutes. During the procedure, a thin flexible tube is inserted into the uterus and the sperm are passed through this channel.
- Results & Follow Up: We follow up with all IUI patients two weeks after their procedure to assess results and discuss next steps. If the patient has not started their period, we perform bloodwork to test pregnancy. For patients who do not achieve pregnancy, we will work with you to discuss your options for next steps in your treatment plan, which can include repeating IUI with a modified medication regimen or other assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF.
Donor Sperm Banks
Mid-Iowa Fertility works with a number of reputable Sperm Donor Banks to help ensure our patients have a seamless experience. Explore the bank options below to begin your donor selection process and learn more about their testing procedures and privacy policies. Our office staff will coordinate shipment of your order to our clinic once you have finalized donor selection. For more information about this process call us at 515-222-3060 (x7112).
California Cryobank
California Cryobank
Fairfax Cryobank
Fairfax Cryobank
Northwest Andrology
Northwest Andrology
Cryogenic Laboratories
Cryogenic Laboratories
Current Patients
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What Our Patients Are Saying
“After the heartbreak and physical pain of a lost pregnancy, and because my husband and I were both in our late 30s, we made an appointment with Mid-Iowa Fertility. In my first meeting with Dr. Cooper, he relayed all kinds of helpful information and answered every one of my hundred or so questions. After me and my husband’s initial workup, we decided IUI was a great starting place for us. The actual IUI “procedure,” if you can even call it that, took mere seconds in the exam room. The nurses were so friendly and wished me success at each appointment. After just two attempts we were successful in creating the most wonderful, happy addition to our family.”
– The Bishop Family
“In December of 2016, we met with Dr. Cooper. During our consultation he got to know us individually and as a couple. He explained the fertility process and tests in detail and in terms we could understand. After Abbie’s fertility work up, we got the GREEN LIGHT to start trying whenever we are ready. We went in for our first medicated IUI in January of 2017 and ended up pregnant with our little boy, Kailor. Kai was born on October 20, 2017. He is the light of our lives. He is loved so very much by his mommy and mama.
We can’t thank the staff at Mid Iowa Fertility enough for everything they have done, are doing and will continue to do for us and others.”
– The LaZella Family