IUI Treatment Eligibility: When Is It Recommended?

IUI Treatment Eligibility is one of the most important things to understand if you’re planning to start your fertility journey. There are many couples or individuals who are facing issues in conceiving naturally. They hear about IUI as one of the first steps in assisted reproduction. However, not everyone may be the right candidate for this treatment. In this blog, we’ll help you understand who can go for IUI and what medical factors doctors look at before suggesting it.

Dr. Rita Bakshi, Senior IVF Specialist and Gynaecologist at RISAA IVF has guided many couples with the right fertility methods. Dr. Bakshi has over 35 years of experience and offers the best guidance. In this blog, we will explain everything about IUI treatment eligibility in simple and clear words to help you make the right decision.

What Is IUI and How Does It Work?

The full form of IUI is Intrauterine Insemination. This is a fertility treatment that helps to increase the chances of pregnancy in those couples who are facing issues in conceiving naturally. In this method, the doctor takes the male partner’s or donor’s sperm, carefully processes it in the lab to select the healthiest and most active sperm, and then places it directly into the woman’s uterus using a thin, flexible tube.

This process is usually done at the time of women’s ovulation, which is when the egg is released from the ovary. In this, the sperm is placed closer to the egg which gives it a better chance of fertilizing the egg. The entire procedure is quick, simple, and mostly painless. It does not require any surgery or long recovery time. This makes it one of the most common and preferred treatments in fertility care.

Who is IUI For?

IUI is mainly for couples or individuals who are having issues in getting pregnant naturally but still have a chance of success with a simple fertility treatment. Below we have mentioned IUI Treatment Eligibility. 

The best candidates for IUI are:

• Couples with unexplained infertility
• Women with mild endometriosis
• Men with slightly low sperm quality
• Couples facing mild male infertility
• Couples who need donor sperm
• Single women or LGBTQ+ couples who want to conceive

When Is IUI Not Recommended?

IUI may not be the right option for everyone. It is usually not recommended when there are major fertility problems that cannot be solved with simple methods. For example, if a woman has blocked fallopian tubes then IUI won’t help because the sperm can’t meet the egg naturally. So, it’s very important to look at the IUI Treatment Eligibility.

Other situations where IUI is not suitable include the following:

• Women with severe endometriosis
• Women with very low egg count or poor egg quality
• Men with very low sperm count or no sperm at all
• Cases where there are genetic conditions that need extra care
• Couples who have already tried IUI multiple times without success

Tests Done Before IUI Treatment

There are a few important tests that are done before IUI for the male and female partner. These tests help the doctor to understand your fertility health and check if IUI is the right option for you.

For Women:

• Ultrasound Scan: This helps to check the uterus and ovaries.
• Hormone Blood Tests: It includes AMH, FSH, LH, TSH to check egg reserve and hormone balance.
• HSG Test (Hysterosalpingogram): This helps to see if the fallopian tubes are open and healthy.
• Ovulation Tracking: This helps to know when the woman is ovulating.

For Men:

• Semen Analysis: This helps to check sperm count, shape, and movement.

Age and IUI Success – Does It Matter?

Yes, age plays a very important role in the success of IUI treatment. As a woman gets older, especially after the age of 35, the number and quality of her eggs start to decrease. This can make it harder to get pregnant, even with IUI.

Women under 30 usually have higher chances of success with IUI. Between 30 to 35, the chances are still good, but after 35, they may start to decrease. After 40, IUI may not work as well, and other treatments like IVF might be better.

Additionally, age also affects men but usually not as much as women. Still, sperm quality can reduce with age, and that too can impact the success of IUI. So, it’s very important to see the IUI Treatment Eligibility first and then decide what is best.

When to Choose IUI?

IUI is a good option when you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while without success and the fertility issue is not very serious. It is usually recommended as the first step before going for more advanced treatments like IVF.

You can consider IUI in the following situations:

• When you’ve been trying for more than a year with no positive result
• You have irregular ovulation or mild hormonal issues
• You have unexplained infertility (when no clear cause is found)
• The male partner has slightly low sperm count or movement
• You are using donor sperm
• You are a single woman or in a same-sex couple and planning pregnancy

IUI is simple, less expensive, and often works well in early fertility treatment stages. Your doctor will guide you if IUI is right for your condition after doing some basic tests.

IUI Success Factors

It’s very important to know the IUI treatment eligibility. There are several things that can affect IUI success factors. Age is one of the most important and women who are under 35 usually have better chances. Success also depends on egg health, sperm quality, and proper timing of the procedure during ovulation. 

Additionally, it’s important to have at least one open fallopian tube. If the fertility issue is mild or unexplained then IUI works better. Also, some couples may need 2–3 cycles for the best chance. A doctor can guide you based on your health and test results.

IUI vs. IVF – Which One Should You Choose?

IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) and IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) are two different fertility treatments. The right choice depends on many factors, including medical condition, age, and how long you’ve been trying to conceive.

IUI is simpler and more affordable. In this process, washed sperm is placed directly into the uterus during ovulation. It works best when the fertility issue is mild like low sperm count, mild PCOS, or unexplained infertility.

IVF is a more advanced treatment. In this process, taking eggs from the ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, and then placing the embryo into the uterus. IVF is recommended if IUI has failed, if you have blocked fallopian tubes, severe male infertility, low egg reserve, or are older in age.

Your doctor may suggest starting with IUI if the chances are good with it. However, if time is short or previous treatments have failed then IVF may be the better option.

Can Single Women or LGBTQ+ Couples Go for IUI?

Yes, single women and LGBTQ+ couples can go for IUI treatment. This method is a safe and helpful way for those who want to become parents without a male partner. In such cases, donor sperm is used, which is carefully screened to make sure it’s healthy and safe. 

IUI offers a less complex way to become parents and is often one of the first options that is offered to same-sex female couples and single women who are ready to start a family. A fertility doctor can guide each person or couple based on their health and personal goals.

Final Words

IUI treatment eligibility is an important topic for anyone who is considering fertility treatment. In this blog, we’ve covered everything about IUI. We have included what IUI is, who are eligible, factors that affect success and when it may not be recommended. We want to help you to make better decisions to grow your family.

At RISAA IVF, Dr. Rita Bakshi (Senior Fertility Specialist and Gynaecologist) has helped many parents to find the right treatment. If you have any questions or want to know if IUI is right for you, feel free to call us at 95555 44421/22/23 or email us at [email protected].

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• What is qualifying for IUI?

You may qualify for IUI if you have at least one open fallopian tube, healthy eggs, and your partner has good sperm count. It’s also an option for single women and LGBTQ+ couples using donor sperm.

• Who is not suitable for IUI?

IUI may not work for women with blocked tubes, low egg reserve, or severe endometriosis. It’s also not ideal if sperm quality is very poor.

• What is the maximum age for IUI?

IUI works best for women under 35. After 40, the chances drop, and IVF is often a better choice.

• Is IUI 100% successful?

No, IUI is not 100% successful. Success per cycle is around 10–20%, and a few cycles may be needed.