What is Intrauterine Insemination?

Insemination is the process of stimulating the female ovaries with medication, then rinsing the eggs with special solutions and injecting the fast-moving, good sperm into the uterus in a concentrated form.

Some factors may change the pregnancy rates after IUI. Severe problems in sperm, if the woman is over 35, if there is endometriosis, if there is damage to the tubes,   the rates decrease. Approximate rates are between 15-20 percent per attempt in the first three IUI attempts. If pregnancy is not achieved after three attempts, it is necessary to switch to in vitro fertilization treatment. Depending on the characteristics of the couple, sometimes IUI is not recommended or less

What are the indications for vaccination? (to whom and in what cases is it performed?)

Insemination can be performed to increase pregnancy rates in women undergoing ovulation treatment. Insemination can be preferred in cases of mild sperm disorders, unexplained infertility, unilateral and mild loss of function in the tubes, endometriosis,   if there is good egg reserve and the infertility period is short.

In women of advanced age, those with low ovarian capacity, those with long periods of infertility, and those with severe sperm problems (motile sperm count below 5 million), IVF should be preferred as the chance of pregnancy through insemination is quite low.

What Should Be Considered Before Vaccination Treatment?

The doctor takes a detailed medical history from the spouse and   examines him/her. He/she evaluates the causes of infertility and the suitability of insemination. If any infection is detected during the examination of the woman, it is treated. The uterus and ovaries are examined with transvaginal ultrasound, and the ovarian capacity is evaluated. Hormone tests may be performed. Before insemination, hysterosalpingography (HSG) – hysterosalpingography or SIS (saline infusion sonohysteroglyphics) should be performed to check the patency of the tubes.

Before the insemination, the woman should not apply any creams or lotions to the vaginal area. Again, sexual abstinence should be applied for 48-72 hours before the procedure.

How is the Vaccination Process Performed?

Using ovulation drugs before insemination increases the number and quality of eggs, thus increasing the chance of success. Ovulation drugs are started on the 2nd-3rd day of the menstrual period and egg maturation is monitored with ultrasounds and hormone tests performed every 2-3 days if necessary. When the eggs are mature, insemination is performed 24-36 hours after the injection to crack the eggs. Insemination is a very simple and almost painless procedure that only takes a few minutes.

In the gynecological examination position, the cervix is ​​visualized with an examination instrument placed in the vaginal area and the prepared sperm is placed into the uterus with the help of a thin catheter passed through the cervix.

Before insemination, sperm washing is performed to remove debris, inflammatory cells, poorly shaped, weak, and dead sperm from the semen taken by external ejaculation. There are various sperm preparation methods. The most commonly used are the flotation and density gradient methods.

Are There Risks to the Vaccination Procedure?

There is usually no pain during the insemination process. There may be mild groin pain. Uterine infection is very rare. Since the sperm is washed during preparation, most of the bacteria in the semen are removed, but neither the sperm nor the cervix can be completely sterilized. If there is severe groin pain, vaginal discharge, and prolonged bleeding after insemination, the possibility of infection should be considered.

Ovulation-inducing drugs used before insemination increase the chance of insemination as well as the risk of multiple pregnancy. This risk is approximately 20 percent. If more than 3-4 mature eggs are observed during follow-up, insemination should be canceled to prevent multiple pregnancy.

What Should Be Considered After Vaccination?

After the vaccination, the person can rest for 15-20 minutes and continue their daily life without any problems. Afterwards, there may be back and groin pain similar to menstrual pain and a small amount of vaginal bleeding for a day or two. There is no harm in having sexual intercourse after the vaccination.