Intrauterine (IUI) is a fertility treatment option used by couples for conceiving. Mainly, the female partner is involved in the procedure of preparation and insemination, and the role of the male partner is equally crucial during the IUI process.
Understanding Intrauterine Insemination(IUI)?
In Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) fertility treatment, the male partner’s sperm is retrieved and washed, and concentrated motile sperms are placed directly into the woman’s ovulating uterus closer to the egg to facilitate fertilization. Doctors also recommended ovulation-stimulating drugs for increasing success chances.
What is the role of the male partner in IUI(Intrauterine Insemination)?
The roles of male and female gametes are equally important. The roles of the male partner in IUI include:
- Semen collection: The male partner has to produce a sperm specimen and provide it to the andrology laboratory for semen washing and preparation for the IUI procedure. Fresh semen is usually recommended and the male partner must be available on insemination day and provide a semen sample. In case of non availability of husband then frozen sperm sample should be thawed and the sample prepared accordingly.
- medication and supplements : Doctors may recommend medication and supplements to male partners for improving sperm count and quality. The male partner should understand and follow this medication, and share any concerns or side effects regarding the medicine.
- Emotional support: The male and female partner should always be together during the whole fertility treatment, support each other emotionally. The male partner should understand the stress a female goes through and provide strength to his better half in these trying times.
- Attend clinical appointments: Accompanying female partners to attend clinical meetings and actively participating in discussions with health care providers helps better understand treatment plans and processes.
- Maintain overall health: The male partner should eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, avoid excessive alcohol, and not stress too much for improving, maintaining, and enhancing sperm quality and count contributed to IUI success.
- Post-IUI support: After the IUI procedure, there is a two-week wait period before a pregnancy test, which is filled with anticipation and anxiety, and the male partner should comfort her and provide emotional support.
How is sperm prepared for IUI?
Steps for sperm preparation involve:
- Semen analysis: Sperm ability to swim, sperm count, sperm morphology, sperm volume, and sperm PH are the parameters that provide the understanding of sperm quality and fertility potential.
- Semen processing: The clinic will ask for legal documents like marriage certificate for identification for your name and birth date when dropping off your sample). Then, semen is washed in the lab to separate most motile and healthy sperm cells from the rest of the seminal fluid. The risk of reaction in the uterus from potentially toxic chemicals present in the semen is reduced by the semen-washing process.
What is the success rate of IUI?
Particular medical conditions, as well as female age, play a significant role in the success rate of any fertility treatment. Women whose age is below 35 have a 13% success rate, and whose age is above 40 only have 3 to 9% success chances. When there is no severe sperm problem, the success rate is 16.9%.
Consult Dr. Partha Das for fertility treatment in Dubai
Dr. Partha Das is the deputy medical director and consultant in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Orchid Fertility in Dubai. With around 19 years of experience in tertiary care centers dealing with complex gynecological infertility and genetic cases, he helped many couples achieve parenthood.Dr. Partha Das and his team provide holistic, safe, effective fertility treatment and patient care.
He is well versed with assisted reproductive technology (ART) and genetics, Reproductive Medicine, Endocrinology, and infertility/ IVF and is skilled in ART techniques and Genetics and Reproduction and genetics.
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