what is iui fertility treatment

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that can improve the chances of pregnancy by placing specially prepared sperm directly in the uterus. The procedure is also known as artificial insemination and is a minimally invasive, lower-cost alternative to in vitro fertilization (IVF) . During IUI, the sperm are inserted around the time an ovary releases one or more eggs, with the goal of uniting the sperm and egg in the fallopian tube, which connects the uterus to the ovaries. IUI can be timed with a persons menstrual cycle, and fertility medications such as Clomid are commonly used to stimulate ovulation. IUI can be helpful for couples experiencing infertility due to medical conditions such as endometriosis or low sperm count or quality, as well as for couples with unexplained infertility, same-sex female couples using donor sperm, and single women wishing to start a family with donor sperm. The success of IUI varies depending on the underlying cause of infertility, and it is often used as a first treatment for unexplained infertility. The cost of IUI varies depending on insurance coverage and doctors fees, but it is generally less expensive than other fertility treatments such as IVF.