What Is IUI?
During Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), a semen sample is prepared by washing the sperm to remove fluid and concentrate the motile sperm cells. The processed sperm is then placed directly into the uterus using a thin catheter.
What Are the Symptoms of IUI Failure?
You should not worry or be stressed if your IUI treatment fails. There are always options to go for the procedure again. Here are some symptoms you might want to consider for IUI failure:
Negative Result: You are generally advised to undergo pregnancy check 15-16 days after IUI procedure. If your IUI fails, the test will be negative.
Regular Periods: Alternatively, you may get your menses even before checking for pregnancy. This also suggests that IUI has failed, still it is advisable to confirm with a negative pregnancy test.
What are the Causes of IUI Failure?
Here are some of the common causes of IUI failure:
Low-quality Sperm: In cases where the sperm count or shape is not normal, it could also lead to failed IUI attempts.
Fertilization failure: If the sperm and egg are not able to fertilize together due to various reasons then IUI will not succeed.
Blocked Fallopian Tubes: If there’s a blockage in the fallopian tube, it may become difficult for the egg and sperm to meet for fertilisation.
Abnormal Uterus: If you have structural abnormalities in your uterus, like fibroids or polyps. It can limit your chances of a successful pregnancy even if fertilisation happens.
Over-aged: If you have passed a certain age (~35 and above for females) and are thinking of having a child, it can be difficult because the function of reproductive organs diminishes.
Implantation Failure: If the embryo fails to implant in the endometrial lining, it can also cause IUI failure. Endometrial thickness is usually monitored on USG before planning IUI.
Other Factors: If you engage in smoking, consume alcohol, and experience levels of stress, these factors can also adversely affect fertility.
What is the Treatment of IUI Failure?
If IUI fails once, you can always consult a doctor and try it again. But if it fails multiple times, here’s what your journey to the treatment for IUI failure will look like:
- Consult a doctor, and they will examine your medical history and test results and suggest some treatment options.
- You can also go for some additional diagnostic tests to know if there are any other causes of IUI failure. You can consider In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). It is a more advanced procedure than IUI. If your partner is experiencing infertility, you can also go for ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). It can improve the chances of fertilisation and overcome IUI failure.
- You should also check your lifestyle factors like food, exercise, stress levels, and exposure to environmental pollutants. This also may have affected your IUI treatment.
Conclusion
IUI is a useful choice for numerous couples, and even if it is unsuccessful initially, there are still reasons to remain hopeful. It is not recommended to select a fertility treatment option without consulting a professional. Make sure always to seek guidance from an infertility specialist, comprehend which treatments are appropriate for you, and then select the most suitable treatment.