IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
Ethical pricing:
Flat price without hidden fees, surprise costs, or inflated profit margins
Includes:
Sperm wash and preparation
Insemination
Monitoring
Ultrasounds
Does not include:
Donor sperm, if necessary
Medications
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a process where sperm is placed directly inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. IUI is performed to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes thereby increasing the chance of fertilization.
The Oma difference
Blood work can be analyzed within 3 days. At other clinics this can take 1-2 weeks.
Ultrasound machines display images of follicles to allow for more accurate and faster monitoring.
No additional costs for extra blood work, tests, ultrasounds, appointments, or monitoring.
IUI at Oma may be right for heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ couples and singles who
Have unexplained infertility
Have cervical conditions
Have ejaculation issues
The IUI journey
- 1
Fertility Testing and Diagnosis
Depending on your reason for choosing IUI, you’ll go through diagnostic testing to look into the cause of your infertility. IUI is not always necessary or feasible, so your doctor might recommend alternative treatments to start.
- 2
Care Coordination and Financial Consultation
An Oma staff member will go over the financial side of the IUI process with you. Your clinical team will review your calendar, order your medication, and prepare you for your treatment.
- 3
Pre-IUI Hormonal Preparation
To prepare your body for IUI, you may need to take birth control pills. It might seem counterintuitive, but birth control helps:
Prepare your ovaries to respond better to hyperstimulation medicine
Coordinate your cycle so you can plan your treatment around your schedule
In addition to starting birth control, we may perform additional tests and recommend lifestyle adjustments as needed.
- 4
Stimulating Egg Production (Optional)
Depending on your care plan, you may begin hormonal treatments by either taking a pill or an injectable medication that encourages your ovaries to produce more mature eggs than they would naturally. This stage takes about 10 days, after which you’ll inject a “trigger shot” at home to induce ovulation.
If your care plan doesn’t include egg production stimulation, you’ll follow your natural cycle before injecting the trigger shot.
- 5
Sperm Collection/Processing and Insemination
24-36 hours after the trigger shot, you’ll come in for sperm selection and insemination.
First, a semen sample will be collected and washed, a process that separates sperm cells from the rest of the seminal fluid and removes dead and weak sperm cells, bacteria, and debris.
Once sperm is processed, we perform the insemination. During the minimally invasive procedure, your doctor will insert a speculum to view your cervix (similar to a Pap smear) and place a thin, flexible tube through the cervix into the uterus. The selected sperm will be injected through this tube. The whole process takes a few minutes and is usually painless — you may experience mild cramping and you may experience spotting for one to two days after the procedure, but you can return to your normal activities immediately.
- 6
Pregnancy testing & monitoring
After the IUI, you'll take medications that help support your pregnancy in the early stages. After about two weeks, you’ll take a pregnancy test. If the test is positive, we’ll administer another test soon after to make sure the pregnancy is progressing successfully. If everything goes well, you’ll be well on your journey to building your family. If your pregnancy test is negative, we’ll schedule a follow-up visit to discuss your options.
FAQs
What Is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)?
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a process where sperm is placed directly inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization. IUI is performed to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes thereby increasing the chance of fertilization. Read more about IUI here .
How is IUI different from IVF?
The difference between IUI and IVF is that IUI inserts washed semen into a woman's uterus in an attempt to fertilize an egg, while IVF creates an embryo in a lab and then transfers it in the uterus where it hopefully implants. Read more about IUI vs. IVF here .
What is the procedure for IUI treatment?
The process starts by notifying the clinic on the first day of your cycle. Depending on your treatment plan, you typically take a limited course of oral medications that encourage the recruitment and growth of 1-2 dominant follicles. This is followed by a trigger shot to induce ovulation. The timing of the trigger shot is determined by an ultrasound to see and measure the dominant follicles.
A day or two after the trigger shot, you'll come to the fertility clinic for insemination. The sperm sample is collected and processed, which essentially extracts the seminal fluid and only uses healthy sperm cells. Similar to a pap smear, the cervix is visualized using a vaginal speculum and the sperm is inserted through a tube that goes through your cervix into the uterus. The sperm is then deposited. Read more about IUI here .
How do you prepare for IUI treatment?
There are a few tasks that need to happen in preparation of an IUI procedure:
- Ovulation monitoring: Your doctor may monitor your natural ovulation cycle to schedule your IUI. This might involve an ultrasound and bloodwork to view ovarian follicles and determine the stage of your cycle.
- Semen sample preparation: A semen sample is not only collected, it's also optimized to maximize the chances of successful fertilization. It is washed to remove dead and weak cells, as well as bacteria. It also removes seminal fluid so only the strongest sperm cells are used in the IUI process.
- Optimal timing: As you go through the preparation stages for your IUI procedure, your doctor will schedule the treatment on the optimal timing based on your body and evidence-based best practices. In addition to monitoring your ovulation, the process is also scheduled based on research revealing the best IUI time is the 24- to 36-hour window following the trigger shot.
Read more about IUI here.
What are the success rates for IUI?
There are a number of factors that can lead to a successful IUI. Some of them include age of the mother, weight of the mother, male factor infertility, fallopian tube blockage, severe endometriosis, pelvic infections and more. You can read more about IUI success rates here.
What risks are involved in IUI?
The IUI procedure is a low-risk fertility treatment, but there are some potential symptoms and side effects to be aware of. You can read more about potential risks here.
What is the cost for IUI?
At Oma, we charge $500 for IUI. Compared to other types of fertility treatments, it's one of the cheapest options out there. It's also a fast procedure, so you don't have to use up too much vacation time or arrange for childcare costs when you go in for your appointment. You can read more about IUI at Oma here.
When is implantation after IUI?
Implantation typically occurs 6-12 days after an IUI is conducted.
What to do after IUI procedure
Unless instructed otherwise by a doctor, you can return to normal activity immediately following an IUI procedure. It is typical to experience some light spotting and cramping in the days following the procedure. Additionally, it is important to treat your body as though it’s pregnant by avoiding alcohol, drugs, and limiting caffeine.
When to take a pregnancy test after IUI?
After an IUI, you’ll take medications to help support your pregnancy in the early stages. A pregnancy test is taken about two weeks after the IUI procedure. If it is positive, we’ll administer another test in our office to confirm.
How many follicles give me the best chance of getting pregnant?
The appropriate number of developing follicles in an IUI cycle is highly dependent on your age and history. Your doctor will be able to set your medication based on this information aiming for the best and safest outcome.