Sometimes the sperm does not reach the correct place inside of the uterus, which can be due to a number of factors. There may be abnormalities of the sperm count, movement or shape that make the sperm less effective on their own. By concentrating the best sperm and placing them directly into the uterus, we can maximize your chances of achieving pregnancy. IUI is done in the office, takes only a few minutes, and generally leads to no discomfort.

Preparation of the sperm can take approximately 30-60 minutes prior to the IUI. A specimen can be brought from home in a sterile container or produced at our office. Once in the office, it can be stored for many hours prior to use. The sperm is separated from the fluid in the sample by our laboratory staff. Sperm is then introduced into the uterus with a small thin catheter by your physician or nurse. You will need to rest for only a few minutes after the procedure, but you can otherwise resume your normal routine.

Insemination with donor sperm can also be performed for single women, same-sex female couples, male couples, when sperm testing from a male partner is highly abnormal, or for trans couples. Sperm is normally obtained from a private commercial sperm bank adhering to requirements for infectious disease screening.