The Fertility Center of Las Vegas

IUI, intrauterine insemination is an affordable first-line infertility treatment

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is an affordable and effective treatment for many hopeful parents who turn to our Nevada fertility center for help conceiving a child.

Also known as artificial insemination, this process involves transferring sperm directly into the woman’s uterus around ovulation. This increases the number of sperm and eggs that reach the fallopian tubes, where fertilization takes place. As a result, intrauterine insemination can increase the chances of fertilization and pregnancy.

The IUI process

The IUI process starts at the beginning of the woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. It takes only a few weeks from beginning to end.

  • Ovarian stimulation – In many cases, the woman takes medication to stimulate the production of multiple egg-containing follicles and prepare her uterine lining.
  • Monitoring – The fertility specialist will use ultrasound to monitor follicle development and determine the ideal time for insemination.
  • Ovulation induction – The woman receives an injection of the hormone hCG at exactly the right time, triggering ovulation.
  • Sperm washing – An andrology will prepare the partner’s or donor’s sperm in our IVF lab. This involves separating healthy, motile sperm from non-motile sperm and other seminal cells and fluid.
  • Insemination – The final sperm sample is placed into the uterus through a flexible catheter passed through the cervix.

This treatment is often effective for women with unexplained infertility, or those who have been diagnosed with semen allergy, hostile cervical conditions or cervical scar tissue. It also improves the odds for hopeful fathers who have low sperm count, mild sperm motility issues, or ejaculation dysfunction. Additionally, countless single women and LGBT couples have used intrauterine insemination with donor sperm to build their families.

Is this treatment right for you?

For each patient, the fertility specialists at our Nevada fertility center, Bruce Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D., Carrie Bedient, M.D., and Leah Kaye, M.D., design a custom treatment plan tailored to achieve pregnancy as quickly and cost-effectively as possible . To determine whether IUI should be part of your treatment plan, your fertility specialist must first diagnose the cause of your infertility.

The process begins at your first visit, when your fertility specialist will document your medical and fertility history. He or she will then order tests to evaluate your ovarian reserve, hormone levels and reproductive organs. Your partner will submit a sperm sample to rule out severe male infertility.

Based on these results, your fertility specialist will determine if IUI is the best approach to help you achieve pregnancy.

To learn more about IUI or to schedule a consultation, contact our Nevada fertility center.

What is IUI?