
Conception is a complicated process. Very few sperm are strong enough to swim from the vagina through the cervix, into the uterus, and up the fallopian tubes to meet and fertilize a woman's egg. To complicate matters more, the sperm must reach the egg within a precise window of time (ovulation) in order for fertilization to take place. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) aims to make this process as easy as possible.
IUI is the most common form of artificial insemination. During the procedure, sperm are placed in the uterus around the time of ovulation to be closer to the egg. IUI aims to increase the chance of fertilization, so that it’s more likely the woman becomes pregnant.

What women can expect in a cycle
IUI may be used in conjunction with OI medications for women with ovulation problems, or with sperm collection techniques for male factor infertility. Your cycle may differ from the above, depending on the types of treatments used.
How successful is IUI?
How well IUI works depends on the reasons for your infertility. People with unexplained infertility, cervical abnormalities, or ejaculation problems typically have the best success. For infertility that has no known cause, pregnancy rates double with IUI compared with no treatment at all. Treatment is also more successful when used in combination with OI medications.
Just like fertility, IUI cycles are less effective as a woman gets older. According to a report from 2016, IUI results in pregnancy in approximately:
- 14% of women under 35 years
- 12% of women 35 to 37 years
- 10% of women 38 to 39 years
- 10% of women 40 to 42 years
- 6% of women over 42 years
Fertilization can be difficult to achieve. If IUI doesn’t work right away, it doesn’t mean that pregnancy won’t ever be possible. It may take more than one round of IUI to conceive successfully.
IUI is less expensive and less invasive than in-vitro fertilization (IVF), but pregnancy rates are also lower. A fertility doctor can advise how many cycles are best for you before considering a different fertility treatment.
Know your options for stateside infertility services, and how to preserve your fertility before deployment.