Dr. Ladu Dewasi, MBBS, MD (Anaesthesia) – Consultant Gynaecologist & Infertility Specialist
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment in which specially prepared sperm is placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. It may be considered for couples with unexplained infertility, certain ovulation problems, mild male-factor infertility, cervical-factor infertility, or when donor sperm is being used.
IUI is less invasive than IVF and may be an appropriate first treatment for some couples. However, it is not suitable for every fertility problem. The right treatment depends on factors such as age, ovulation, fallopian tube status, ovarian reserve, semen parameters and how long you have been trying to conceive.
IUI may be recommended when placing a higher concentration of motile sperm closer to the site of fertilisation could improve the chance of conception.
Depending on the diagnosis, IUI may be considered for:
For some patients, IUI may be combined with medicines that stimulate ovulation. For others, a natural-cycle approach may be considered.
The decision depends on your fertility evaluation, rather than the diagnosis alone.
The tests recommended before IUI depend on your age, medical history, previous fertility investigations and the suspected cause of infertility.
Depending on the individual situation, your evaluation may include:
These investigations help determine whether IUI is likely to be appropriate for you, or whether another approach may offer a better chance of pregnancy.
The exact IUI protocol varies from patient to patient. A typical treatment cycle may involve the following steps.
Your medical history, previous investigations and fertility factors are reviewed before treatment begins.
This may include ultrasound, hormone testing, semen analysis and assessment of the fallopian tubes where required.
IUI needs to be carefully timed around ovulation.
Depending on your situation, ovulation may be monitored in a natural cycle or fertility medication may be prescribed to help develop a mature follicle.
Ultrasound scans may be used to monitor follicle development and determine when the follicles are ready.
Monitoring also helps reduce the risk of excessive follicular development when medication is being used.
If a trigger injection is part of your treatment plan, it is used to help time ovulation.
The timing of insemination is then planned around the expected time of ovulation.
A semen sample is collected and processed in the laboratory.
During sperm washing, the sample is prepared to concentrate suitable motile sperm for insemination.
A thin, soft catheter is gently passed through the cervix and the prepared sperm is placed into the uterus.
The insemination itself usually takes only a few minutes.
Most women experience little discomfort, although some may feel brief cramping or pressure.
A pregnancy test is generally performed around two weeks after IUI.
Testing too early can sometimes produce an unreliable result, particularly when medications used during treatment can affect the result.
Natural-cycle IUI follows your body’s own ovulation without ovarian-stimulation medication. Ultrasound or other monitoring may be used to determine the appropriate timing.
Whether natural-cycle IUI is appropriate depends on the underlying fertility diagnosis.
Stimulated IUI uses fertility medication to encourage the development of one or more mature follicles.
The ovaries are monitored with ultrasound so that the treatment can be timed appropriately.
Medication can increase the risk of multiple pregnancy if more than one follicle develops, which is why monitoring is an important part of treatment.
Your doctor will decide which approach is appropriate based on your diagnosis and treatment goals.
IUI is not the right treatment for every cause of infertility.
It may not be appropriate when there is:
Reduced ovarian reserve or increasing age may also influence whether IUI is the best option, because these factors can affect the likelihood of success with fertility treatment generally.
If IUI is unlikely to provide a reasonable chance of pregnancy, the focus should be on explaining why and discussing the alternatives rather than proceeding with treatment simply because it is less invasive.
There is no single IUI success rate that applies to every patient. As a general guide, success per cycle is commonly cited in the region of 10–20% for younger patients, falling considerably with age and depending heavily on the underlying cause of infertility, but this range should be read as background context, not a prediction.
Your chance of pregnancy with IUI depends on several factors, including:
Age — an important factor in fertility generally, and a strong influence on IUI outcomes specifically
Cause of infertility — IUI suits some diagnoses better than others; severe tubal disease or severe male-factor infertility usually need a different approach
Ovulation — success depends on accurate timing around ovulation, which is why monitoring matters
Ovarian reserve — becomes a more significant factor as age increases
Fallopian tube status
Sperm count and motility after preparation
Number and development of follicles
Whether fertility medication is used
Previous fertility treatment and overall reproductive health
Because these factors interact differently for each patient, a website-quoted success rate should be treated as general background rather than a prediction. During your consultation, Dr. Dewasi can assess your specific fertility factors and explain what may influence your individual chances of success.
For some couples, more than one treatment cycle may be considered before changing strategy, there is no universal number of cycles right for everyone. Age, diagnosis, and treatment response so far should guide whether to repeat IUI or move to IVF.
IUI is generally considered a minimally invasive fertility procedure, but no medical treatment is completely without risk.
Possible side effects or risks include:
The risks associated with IUI are also influenced by the treatment protocol. For example, ovarian stimulation can increase the chance of multiple pregnancy, which is one reason careful follicle monitoring is important.
Your doctor will explain the relevant risks before treatment.
Most women experience little discomfort during IUI.
The procedure involves passing a thin catheter through the cervix into the uterus and usually takes only a few minutes.
Some women may experience brief cramping or pressure during or shortly after the procedure. If you have previously experienced painful pelvic examinations or procedures, tell your doctor before treatment so that your concerns can be discussed in advance.
Before starting an IUI cycle:
You do not need to follow a complicated routine before IUI. The most important part is following the treatment and monitoring plan provided for your particular cycle.
Most patients can return to normal daily activities after IUI.
You may experience mild cramping, light spotting or temporary pelvic discomfort. These symptoms are usually short-lived.
Your doctor may give you specific instructions about medication, physical activity and follow-up depending on your treatment cycle.
A pregnancy test is generally performed around 14 days after insemination.
If you develop significant pain, heavy bleeding, fever or other concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly.
An unsuccessful IUI cycle does not automatically mean that pregnancy is impossible.
Depending on the overall picture, the options may include another appropriately planned IUI cycle or a discussion about IVF or another fertility treatment.
The decision should be based on your individual diagnosis, age, treatment response and reproductive goals.
IUI, IVF and ICSI are different fertility treatments and are used for different clinical situations.
| Factor | IUI | IVF | ICSI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where fertilisation occurs | Inside the body | In the laboratory | In the laboratory |
| Sperm placement | Prepared sperm is placed in the uterus | Eggs and sperm are combined in the laboratory | A single sperm is injected into an egg |
| Egg retrieval | No | Yes | Yes |
| Treatment complexity | Lower | Higher | Higher |
| Typical cost | Lowest of the three – generally a fraction of the cost of a full IVF/ICSI cycle | Higher than IUI | Similar to or slightly higher than IVF |
| Common uses | Selected cases of unexplained, ovulatory or mild male-factor infertility | Several causes of infertility, including some tubal and male-factor problems | Often considered when there are specific indications related to sperm or previous fertilisation problems |
The appropriate option depends on the cause of infertility, age, ovarian reserve, fallopian tube status, semen parameters, previous treatment and other clinical factors.
IUI is one of the more affordable fertility treatments available, typically a fraction of the cost of a full IVF or ICSI cycle, since it does not involve egg retrieval or laboratory fertilisation. The exact cost of your treatment still depends on your specific plan.
Factors that can affect the total cost include:
Because treatment requirements differ between patients, the most useful approach is to understand the expected cost of your specific treatment plan before starting the cycle.
Dr. Dewasi’s team can explain the expected treatment components and estimated cost during your consultation.
Choosing IUI is not simply about selecting a procedure. It is about determining whether IUI is appropriate for your particular fertility situation.
Dr. Ladu Dewasi is a consultant gynaecologist and infertility specialist practising at Mayflower Women’s Hospital, Bopal, Ahmedabad. She holds an MBBS and an MD in Anaesthesia and has more than seven years of experience in gynaecology, obstetrics and reproductive medicine.
Her approach begins with an individual fertility assessment before recommending treatment.
Depending on your situation, this may involve reviewing:
This helps determine whether IUI is appropriate or whether another fertility treatment may offer a better option.
IUI itself does not usually require anaesthesia, but many fertility patients go on to need procedures that do, egg retrieval, hysteroscopy, or diagnostic laparoscopy. Because Dr. Dewasi holds an MD in Anaesthesia in addition to her gynaecology qualification, she personally plans sedation, pain control and recovery for her own patients rather than referring this to a separate anaesthesia team. This is particularly relevant if you are anxious about sedation, or have a condition such as asthma, obesity, thyroid disease, or a previous reaction to anaesthesia.
Dr. Ladu Dewasi provides fertility consultation and treatment at:
Mayflower Women’s Hospital
2nd Floor, Satyamev Elite,
Bopal–Ambli Junction, Sardar Patel Ring Road,
Bopal, Ahmedabad 380058
For couples looking for IUI treatment in Ahmedabad, the first step is a fertility consultation to understand the likely cause of difficulty conceiving and whether IUI is an appropriate treatment option.
The treatment plan may be natural-cycle IUI, stimulated IUI or another fertility treatment depending on your individual evaluation.
Mayflower Women’s Hospital – 2nd Floor, Satyamev Elite Ambli, Junction, Sardar Patel Ring Rd, Bopal, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380058