Are You a Good Candidate for IUI?
One of the most popular infertility treatment options available at Houston Fertility Center is intrauterine insemination, or IUI. This artificial insemination procedure involves the meticulous washing of sperm, followed by their careful placement directly into the uterus. It has proven successful in treating cases in which female factor infertility, male factor infertility, or both interfered with a couple’s ability to conceive.
At our fertility clinic in Houston, IUI candidates are thoroughly screened by Dr. Sonja Kristiansen before she recommends it as a viable infertility treatment option. Although many patients gravitate toward IUI because it is less expensive than certain other fertility treatments, its effectiveness depends on how well suited candidates are to the procedure. Dr. Kristiansen takes the time to educate patients about what IUI entails, its benefits and its risks, and the couple’s likelihood of successful conception though the procedure.
Our primary goal at Houston Fertility Center is to enable you to make your dream of bringing a beautiful new life into this world come true. To find out whether IUI is likely to make that happen, we encourage you to meet with Dr. Kristiansen at her state-of-the-art fertility clinic at your earliest convenience.
Are you a good candidate for IUI?
Most patients are good candidates for IUI, whether they choose to undergo the procedure on its own or in conjunction with fertility drugs. You may be a good candidate for IUI if you are a woman who wants to conceive a child and:
- Has a male partner with sufficient sperm count or is attempting to become pregnant using donor sperm
- Has mild to moderate endometriosis
- Has problems with cervical mucus
- Is allergic to semen
- Is not infertile, but does not regularly have sexual intercourse with your partner
- Has healthy hormone levels
- Has healthy fallopian tubes that are not blocked
- Has a sufficient number of quality eggs in her ovaries
- Has reasonable expectations for the results of IUI, as there is no guarantee of successful pregnancy
You may not be a suitable candidate for IUI if:
- You have severe endometriosis
- Your partner suffers from severe male factor infertility and you are unwilling to use donor sperm
- You have tubal disease
- You have an insufficient number of quality eggs in your ovaries
- You have a history of pelvic adhesions
- You have attempted IUI four or more times without success in the past
Usually, if IUI is going to be successful, that success will occur within the first four attempts. After that, Dr. Kristiansen generally recommends that patients consider in vitro fertilization (IVF) as an alternative infertility treatment. She may also recommend IVF as the first course of action to patients who are not suitable candidates for IUI, especially to those couples for whom male factor infertility is at issue and donor sperm is not a viable option.
Learn More about Whether You Are a Candidate for IUI
If you would like to learn whether you are a good candidate for IUI, please schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Kristiansen by contacting Houston Fertility Center today.