Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a frequently used method of fertility treatment. Find out more about intrauterine insemination below.

What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?

IUI is an abbreviation for intrauterine insemination, and it means that sperm cells are injected directly into the uterus. This is in contrast to vaginal insemination or ordinary intercourse, where the sperm cells are injected into the vagina and must swim the rest of the way to the uterus themselves.

Intrauterine insemination is carried out by having a thin catheter put in through the cervix and into the uterus. The catheter is made of flexible plastic and therefore especially suitable for IUI insemination since it can be shaped in accordance with the form of the uterus. Some women have a uterus that leans backwards, others a forward-leaning or twisted uterus. The use of the catheter takes account of these anatomical differences so that IUI insemination can be carried out with as little discomfort as possible.

An intrauterine insemination requires personnel who are specially trained to carry it out, and you must never try to do any intrauterine insemination yourself. At Vitanova, the insemination is carried out by mid-wives. Mid-wives have been involved with the anatomy of the female abdomen throughout their training and therefore have a thorough knowledge of how an intrauterine insemination should be carried out.

Before intrauterine insemination, the semen has to be washed. Ordinary semen has not only sperm cells, but also the fluid they are in and various waste matter and impurities. The seminal fluid and impurities must not reach the uterus, so bioanalysts process the semen in the laboratory before it is used for intrauterine insemination. In a way, the bioanalysts simulate the process that sperm cells normally go through when they swim from the vagina up to the uterus in ordinary intercourse. The sperm cells go through three filters in the laboratory before they are ready for the insemination. If the semen is not washed before intrauterine insemination, the woman can become seriously ill. So you must never try to carry out an intrauterine insemination at home with unwashed semen.

The actual intrauterine insemination takes only a short time, but we recommend that the woman should remain lying down and rest for at least half an hour afterwards. We do so to make sure that the woman is well enough to get up, but also because it is a great emotional experience to become a parent in this way and the half-hour lying still allows you time to feel happy about the new life that perhaps is coming into being at that very moment.

Questions about intrauterine insemination?

Phone us on tel. 33 33 71 01 or contact us for further information and counselling about IUI/ intrauterine insemination.