The actual procedure of IUI is very simple. There are no restrictions and no need of bed rest after the procedure. The procedure is quick and the woman can resume her regular activities soon. The placing of the sperm into the uterus is the most important step in the IUI procedure. Read on to know about the IUI procedure. After the woman who is undergoing the IUI procedure arrives at the clinic, she is asked to relax in the procedure room. Here she needs to undress waist down and made to lie upon the examination table. She is then covered with a drape sheet. Her legs are then placed in stirrups. A speculum is carefully inserted inside her vagina. This process is similar to the one that is done while conducting a pap smear test. In this articleHow is the Sperm Placed?The IUI Procedure can Be Difficult TooWhat is the Feeling after the IUI Procedure?Precautions after IUIHow is the Sperm Placed? The washed sperm specimen is kept ready. It is drawn into a sterilised catheter that has a syringe attached to it. As the physician presses the plunger on the syringe, the sperm specimen that it is holding inside it, readily flows through the catheter straight inside the uterus. After this, the physician withdraws the catheter and removes the speculum. The patient is now allowed to remove her legs from the stirrups. She is asked to relax for about five minutes. This marks the completion of the intrauterine insemination. The woman can now get dressed and resume her regular activities. IUI happens to be a very convenient procedure as the woman is not advised bed rest. The IUI Procedure can Be Difficult Too Although in the above account, the procedure seems to be very easy or rather uncomplicated, but at times the insertion of the catheter inside the uterus of the woman can be very complex. This can be a result of certain medical conditions but there are definite ways to deal with them. Selection of Catheters - There are various types of IUI catheters that are available. There are catheters that have a flexible wire within them. This wire helps the physician to a great degree in his attempt to bend the catheter into his desired shape. The physician decides this shape according to the path of the cervix that leads to the uterus. He does it in a manner that makes the travel as smooth as possible. The wire also offers a certain amount of rigidity to the catheter which is otherwise extremely soft and flaccid. So now the IUI catheter can be inserted with considerable ease inside the uterus. Usage of Tenaculum - There is another instrument that physicians use and is called the Tenaculum. It is used to grab a hold of the cervix wall. It basically allows the physician who is performing the insemination to tug the walls of the cervix and thereby straighten and adjust the angular position of the cervix and the uterus. This is of course when the path is not free and smooth due to some reason. The process makes it easy for the IUI catheter to pass through. The patient is often asked to fill her bladder as it helps to straighten up this angle. Ultrasound is yet another way that can offer guidance to the physician to as to how he can insert the IUI catheter inside the uterine cavity. What is the Feeling after the IUI Procedure? Under general circumstances, it has been observed that IUI does not cause too mush discomfort to the patient. Most of the patients who have undergone this procedure have reported that the process is quite similar to the Pap smear test. There have been reports talking about cramping after the process is over. But this is actually a normal feeling that results from the ovulation and not from the IUI procedure itself. Precautions after IUI There are no restrictions for the woman and it is also fine if the couple has intercourse after this procedure. In fact, if the male has a low sperm count, having intercourse enhances the chances of pregnancy even more as the total sperm count increases. At times reflux can happen where the woman experiences a leakage of fluid through her vagina after IUI. This can be caused due to the contraction of the uterus and should not be a cause of worry.
The actual procedure of IUI is very simple. There are no restrictions and no need of bed rest after the procedure. The procedure is quick and the woman can resume her regular activities soon. The placing of the sperm into the uterus is the most important step in the IUI procedure. Read on to know about the IUI procedure. After the woman who is undergoing the IUI procedure arrives at the clinic, she is asked to relax in the procedure room. Here she needs to undress waist down and made to lie upon the examination table. She is then covered with a drape sheet. Her legs are then placed in stirrups. A speculum is carefully inserted inside her
vagina. This process is similar to the one that is done while conducting a pap smear test.
How is the Sperm Placed?
The washed sperm specimen is kept ready. It is drawn into a sterilised catheter that has a syringe attached to it. As the physician presses the plunger on the syringe, the sperm specimen that it is holding inside it, readily flows through the catheter straight inside the uterus. After this, the physician withdraws the catheter and removes the speculum. The patient is now allowed to remove her legs from the stirrups. She is asked to relax for about five minutes. This marks the completion of the intrauterine insemination.
The woman can now get dressed and resume her regular activities. IUI happens to be a very convenient procedure as the woman is not advised bed rest.
The IUI Procedure can Be Difficult Too
Although in the above account, the procedure seems to be very easy or rather uncomplicated, but at times the insertion of the catheter inside the uterus of the woman can be very complex. This can be a result of certain medical conditions but there are definite ways to deal with them.
Selection of Catheters - There are various types of IUI catheters that are available. There are catheters that have a flexible wire within them. This wire helps the physician to a great degree in his attempt to bend the catheter into his desired shape. The physician decides this shape according to the path of the cervix that leads to the uterus. He does it in a manner that makes the travel as smooth as possible. The wire also offers a certain amount of rigidity to the catheter which is otherwise extremely soft and flaccid. So now the IUI catheter can be inserted with considerable ease inside the uterus.
Usage of Tenaculum - There is another instrument that physicians use and is called the Tenaculum. It is used to grab a hold of the cervix wall. It basically allows the physician who is performing the insemination to tug the walls of the cervix and thereby straighten and adjust the angular position of the cervix and the uterus. This is of course when the path is not free and smooth due to some reason. The process makes it easy for the IUI catheter to pass through. The patient is often asked to fill her bladder as it helps to straighten up this angle.
Ultrasound is yet another way that can offer guidance to the physician to as to how he can insert the IUI catheter inside the uterine cavity.
What is the Feeling after the IUI Procedure?
Under general circumstances, it has been observed that IUI does not cause too mush discomfort to the patient. Most of the patients who have undergone this procedure have reported that the process is quite similar to the Pap smear test. There have been reports talking about cramping after the process is over. But this is actually a normal feeling that results from the ovulation and not from the IUI procedure itself.
Precautions after IUI
There are no restrictions for the woman and it is also fine if the couple has intercourse after this procedure. In fact, if the male has a low sperm count, having intercourse enhances the chances of pregnancy even more as the total sperm count increases.
At times reflux can happen where the woman experiences a leakage of fluid through her vagina after IUI. This can be caused due to the contraction of the uterus and should not be a cause of worry.
