IUI is Intra-Uterine Insemination

IUI stands for Intra-Uterine Insemination, which is a medical procedure many people use to get pregnant. The process is fairly simple but does involve a visit to a medical provider, unlike ICI.  Using a small tube to bypass the cervix, a doctor can insert sperm directly into the uterus.

From there, sperm will travel through the fallopian tubes, looking for the egg that was released during ovulation. This cuts down on the time and distance the sperm needs to travel, increasing the chance of pregnancy.

The sperm used for IUI needs to be ‘washed’ of the seminal fluid because that can cause irritation in the uterus. This is done in a lab’s centrifuge and sometimes includes filtering out lower-quality sperm.

The timing of an IUI is very important. The doctor will inject one or two vials of sperm about 15 hours to 36 hours after a positive ovulation predictor kit result (also known as an LH surge). You will need to use a reliable ovulation predictor kit every day from a few days after your period until you get a positive result.

If you don’t ovulate regularly, you may need to use some fertility medications with IUIs in order to ensure the best chances of pregnancy.

If IUI is in your future, having acupuncture treatments can help increase your chances of success. Acupuncture has been shown to be very helpful in improving egg quality, supporting healthy ovulation and menstrual cycles, and helping maintain a pregnancy.

Starting regular acupuncture sessions about 3 months prior to attempting to get pregnant offers the best results.

Regardless of how you plan to get pregnant, we would be delighted to be part of your care team. Contact us at Portland Acupuncture Studio to learn how we can help you get pregnant soon and schedule an appointment.

Established patients can schedule online, patients who haven’t seen us at Kwan Yin Healing Center call (503) 701-8766, or email us to schedule your appointment.