IUI: What It Is and Who It Helps

Trying to get pregnant and wondering if IUI could help? IUI, or intrauterine insemination, places prepared sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation. It’s less invasive and cheaper than IVF, and it’s often the first step when simple fertility issues exist.

How IUI Works

First, your clinic times ovulation using blood tests, ultrasound, or ovulation kits. If needed, they give mild fertility drugs to increase egg release. On the day of ovulation, sperm is washed and concentrated, then a thin catheter places the sample into the uterus. The procedure takes minutes and most people go home the same day.

Success depends on several things: age, egg quality, sperm quality, and whether fallopian tubes are open. Typical success rates are roughly 10–20% per cycle for women under 35, and the rate drops with age. Many clinics recommend trying 3–6 cycles before changing strategy.

Costs, Tests, and Expectations

Out-of-pocket costs vary. A single IUI cycle can range from about $300 to $1,000 without medications; fertility drugs, ultrasounds, and labs add extra. Insurance coverage is inconsistent—always check before you start. Before IUI, expect tests like semen analysis, hormone panels, and a tubal patency check (HSG) to make sure it’s a viable option.

What should you expect the day of the procedure? You’ll lie back on an exam table, similar to a Pap test. The clinician guides a catheter through the cervix and deposits the sperm. Discomfort is usually mild—some feel cramping or spotting afterward. Normal activity can resume soon, but follow your clinic’s advice on exercise and sex.

Risks are low but real. Multiple pregnancy risk rises if ovulation drugs are used—twins or more are possible. Rarely, drugs can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Infection and spotting can occur but are uncommon with proper technique.

Want better odds? Timing matters. Quit smoking, aim for a healthy BMI, manage major medical issues like diabetes or thyroid disease, and follow medication and monitoring schedules closely. Good sperm health also matters—ask about lifestyle changes and supplements if needed.

Ask these questions before you start: What are your clinic’s success rates by age? What tests do we need? How many cycles do you recommend before IVF? What are total expected costs, including meds and monitoring? How will donor sperm or ICSI be handled if needed?

If several IUI cycles fail, IVF may be the next step, especially for blocked tubes or severe sperm issues. But for many couples and individuals, IUI offers a simpler, lower-cost path with reasonable chances—especially when fertility issues are mild.

Got specific concerns about timing, costs, or side effects? Your fertility clinic should give clear, personalized answers. IUI is straightforward to try and, for the right people, it’s often a smart first move on the path to pregnancy.