How Successful is IUI Treatment? Risks Factors to Consider

August 10, 2022

IUI or Intrauterine Insemination is a fertility method that requires no fertility medication and was previously known as artificial insemination. In the IUI process, the healthy sperms are washed in a specific way and placed in the uterus using a thin tube. The chances of pregnancy are comparatively higher with IUI. The cost of an IUI treatment ranges from Rs.12,000 to Rs.17,000 in an average. IUI cost in Bangalore, Chennai. Delhi, Mumbai and other cities remain around the same in all Apollo hospitals and clinics.  

Factors That Affect the Success of IUI Treatment

The success rate after an IUI treatment process depends on the diagnosis that you and your partner have, your age and the time you choose for the procedure. 

The Diagnosis:

There are mainly three conditions that you and your partner might be diagnosed with: Unexplained fertility, A single open fertility tube, and male factor infertility

Unexplained infertility is when your female counterpart has a good egg count, healthy uterus, open fallopian tubes, and your male counterpart has a good sperm count under all normal conditions. Under these circumstances, the success rate is anywhere between 7% to 10% for every cycle. You can even increase this number to 15% to 25%. 

A single open fertility tube indicates that one of the fallopian tubes has been blocked, while the other one is still open. If the blockage is closer to the ovary, then the success rate of IUI is 11.7%, while the same number can go as high as 38.1% if the blockage is closer to the uterus.

If your male counterpart has male factor infertility, this means that the sperms are either normal or borderline normal and can impregnate the egg. The success rate in this case is around 16.9%.

Also, Read: IUI Treatment: What to Expect

Your Age:

As your age increases, the chances of success through IUI significantly decrease. In this case you might even need repeated IUI cycles to get pregnant. If you are under 35 years of age, the IUI success rate is 13%, while the same number is 10% for people between 35 to 37 years of age. Once you cross 38 years, the success rate becomes 9%, and can even drop down to 3% once you are over 40 years.

The Time of The Procedure:

When you consult the doctor, they will schedule the entire process depending on your female counterpart’s ovulation. Any delay caused during this process will significantly affect your chances of success. 

Other Circumstances:

Apart from all other factors, there are a few causes that will significantly decrease your chances of success. For instance, if your female counterpart has moderate to severe endometriosis, or your male partner produces no sperm, it severely decreases your chances of getting pregnant. Apart from this, if the mother has a severe fallopian tube disease, or has had both fallopian tubes removed, or blocked, it hampers your success rates. Other than this, having had multiple pelvic infections can also prove to be an obstacle.

Risks of an IUI

While an IUI process is extremely safe and there are not many risks involved, it is important for you to know about the few that are present, to make the right decision. 

There is a chance that you might develop an infection because of the procedure. Apart from this, occasionally, the process of placing the catheter in the uterus can cause little vaginal bleeding but this has no adverse effects on your chances of getting pregnant.

While IUI is not associated with the risk of a multiple pregnancy, when coordinated with ovulation-inducing medications, the risk of a multiple pregnancy increases significantly.

Also, Read: What is the Best Time for IUI

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