In the modern world, ridden with stress and competition, our bodies are the ones that take the toll. One of the most evident impacts of this unhealthy lifestyle is infertility. But thanks to procedures like Intrauterine insemination (IUI), the joy of parenthood could be well within your grasp. Easy and minimally invasive, IUI is one of the first courses of action to resolve infertility issues.
Here is a more detailed look at IUI and IUI success symptoms day-by-day.
The IUI Procedure
Intra-uterine insemination (IUI) is a type of insemination that aims to facilitate fertility.
- Need for IUI: In a normal scenario, post-intercourse, the released sperm has to travel from the vagina to the uterus via the fallopian tubes. Due to the length, only 5% of the sperms can make the journey. A variety of factors might interfere with the process of the fertilization of the egg by the sperm.
- How IUI works: During IUI, the washed & prepared sperm is injected directly into the uterus. This makes it easier for the sperm to fertilize the egg. The semen has been “washed”, which means it has been concentrated for high sperm count. The entire process is minimally invasive, relatively low cost , and has a quick turnaround time.
- Pre-procedure preparation: Preparing for an IUI starts 7-14 days before the procedure. During this period, the doctor might start you on hormone medications to stimulate your ovaries, to release more than one egg, or to normalize your cycle (in case you are suffering from PCOS). During this time, the doctor might also collect a semen sample from your partner. Ideally, the semen sample should be procured on the day of the procedure. However, in case this is not possible, the sample is collected in advance and frozen.
- The Procedure: During the procedure, you would be simply asked to lie down on a table; no anesthetic is required. The doctor would first insert a speculum inside your vagina, followed by a catheter that goes to your uterus. Using the catheter, the washed sperm is placed directly in your uterus. This marks the end of the procedure, though the doctor might ask you to continue lying down for another 10-30 minutes before leaving. They might also prescribe you progesterone which helps maintain the uterine lining and improves the chances of implantation.
IUI Success Timeline
Your body goes to work as soon as the IUI procedure happens, though it is not always possible to see it. Over the next two weeks after the procedure, you might notice gradual changes in your body – many of which might indicate success. Here is the breakdown of the IUI success symptoms day-by-day:
- Day 1-2: The egg might get fertilized by the inserted sperm during this period. There would be no pregnancy-related symptoms yet, though there might be after-effects of the IUI procedure itself. These might include mild cramping and slight spotting (due to the insertion of the catheter previously).
- Day 3-5: If the egg has been fertilized, the fertilized egg (or zygote) begins its journey towards the uterus. The mild cramping and spotting might continue to occur, but it would still be largely due to the procedure itself. If the egg was successfully fertilized, you might experience slight bloating as well.
- Day 6-7: If the zygote had successfully reached the uterus, the implantation on the uterine walls might occur during this period. As it has been only 7 days after IUI, do not expect any symptoms beyond spotting, cramping, and bloating.
- Day 8 – 10: If the zygote had successfully implanted itself in the uterus, your body would start producing the hCG hormone. You can now expect to see symptoms specifically related to pregnancy. This includes light pink/brown spotting (implantation bleeding), increased cramping, and feeling slightly feverish.
- Day 11-13: The hCG levels rise rapidly, triggering various early pregnancy symptoms. These include nausea, fatigue, frequent mood swings, tenderness in the breasts, and frequent urination.
- Day 14+: Previous symptoms might continue. Now, 14 days after IUI symptoms, there is enough hCG in the blood and urine to detect pregnancy. To check, you could either use a home pregnancy kit or a blood test.
Symptoms
It is important to know which IUI success symptoms day-by-day you could expect after the procedure:
- Cramping: Cramping is the most common symptom after an IUI procedure. The severity could range from mild to severe (similar to menstrual cramps).
- Spotting: Spotting would generally occur immediately after the procedure due to the catheter insertion. It might increase when implantation occurs.
- Fatigue: The increased levels of progesterone could induce the feeling of fatigue and tiredness in the patient.
- Nausea: One of the typical symptoms of early pregnancy, you could feel nausea, morning sickness and even vomiting towards the end of the second week.
- Mood Swings: Due to the rapid hormonal changes, mood swings and irritation are commonly observed symptoms.
- Tender Breasts: The hormonal changes could also cause tenderness and soreness in the breasts.
Side-Effects
Apart from the symptoms of the changes happening in your body, you might also face certain side effects from the medications prescribed for the procedure.
- Impact of Progesterone: Sometimes the fatigue, nausea, and breast tenderness are not caused by pregnancy but are rather the side effects of the progesterone given before the IUI procedure.
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: In some cases, the hormone-stimulating medications given before the procedure could lead to OHSS. It could cause abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating.
It should be noted that while symptoms are expected after an IUI procedure, side effects aren’t; in the case of the latter, you must reach out to your attending doctor immediately.
Factors Affecting Success
On average, IUI has an average success rate of 10-20% per cycle. However, this is a broad range that depends on a variety of factors. Here are some of the key factors affecting the outcome of your IUI procedure:
- Age: Age is perhaps the most crucial factor determining the success of the procedure. Typically, women aged 35 and lower have a high success rate (15-20% per cycle). Women aged 35-40 have a success rate of around 10% per cycle, while women above the age of 40 only have a success rate of around 5% per cycle.
- Sperm Quality: IUI promises a high success rate if the sperm motility is above 40% and the sperm morphology is normal. Typically, a total sperm count of 10 million or more is recommended.
- Hormone Medications: The use of hormones like Clomid (for stimulating ovulation) and hCG (for boosting egg production) significantly boosts the chances of success. In case of conditions like PCOS or irregular menstrual cycles, hormones like Letrozole could be used.
- Underlying Health Conditions: The reason behind the inability to get pregnant naturally also plays a key role in determining the choice of IUI. IUI works for cases like mild PCOS, minor sperm issues, or if the infertility is unexplained. In cases like blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count/motility, or severe endometriosis, IUI would not yield good results.
- Number of Cycles: Typically, 2-3 cycles are recommended which might have a cumulative success rate of 30-40%. However, if no success is found after 3 cycles, your fertility doctor will recommend moving towards options like IVF.
Best Practices After IUI
Even if the IUI procedure was a success, a successful pregnancy is still a long goal. To succeed in that goal, you must keep some important advice in mind:
- Have a Healthy Diet: It could not be overstated just how important a healthy body is for a successful pregnancy. Health is a multi-dimensional field that encompasses many factors – food being crucial to it. It includes the intake of nutritious food rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. You must increase the intake of food which could improve the egg quality, balance hormones, or improve other reproductive functions.
- Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle: There are many other aspects to a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise as part of your daily routine. Be it at the gym or home; cardio or strength; light or intense – the important part is to keep your body active as much as you comfortably can. Improve your sleep cycle to have ample sleep in tune with your circadian rhythm.
- Eliminate Stress: Stress is the biggest enemy of fertility. If you are pregnant or trying to be, it is very important to keep stress at bay. You should try to avoid high-pressure or stressful situations. Introducing meditation and breathing exercises could do wonders for your mental health.
Conclusion
IUI is a time tested procedure that has served as a blessing to countless couples hoping to experience the joy of parenthood. The timeline of the first two weeks might offer some discomfort, but also provide conclusive proof whether the procedure has been a success. For more details, connect with Vrinda Fertility to take the next step towards parenthood.
