 Suite 300 |
 Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)Intrauterine insemination (IUI) of sperm is a fertility enhancing treatment whereby specially "washed" sperm are placed in the uterine cavity at the time of ovulation using a small sterile catheter.
|
 |
Clomiphene Citrate with Intrauterine Insemination |
|
Superovulation Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) |
Clomiphene Citrate with Intrauterine Insemination
Clomiphene Citrate corrects ovulation abnormalities in patients who do not ovulate well and may increase the number of eggs produced by the ovaries in patients who are already ovulating normally. When more eggs are produced and more sperms reach the fallopian tubes, the pregnancy rate per cycle increases. Clomiphene Citrate combined with IUI significantly improves the pregnancy rate compared with Clomiphene Citrate and natural intercourse. Clomiphene Citrate may cause the cervical mucous of some women to thicken thus hindering passage of sperm through the mucous. The addition of intrauterine insemination overcomes this negative effect of Clomiphene Citrate. The combination of Clomiphene Citrate and IUI can also be an effective treatment for mild male factor infertility.
Navigating your Clomid® IUI Cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
Superovulation Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Gonadotropins are injectable follicle-stimulating hormones that are identical to the hormone FSH produced by the body. This treatment results in the recruitment and growth of multiple follicles and eggs. In addition to increasing the number of eggs, the timing of ovulation can be controlled to maximize the chances of pregnancy by the administration of HCG (Chorionic Gonadotropin®) when the follicles have grown to a size consistent with egg maturity. Intrauterine insemination (injection of sperm into the uterus) is always performed in combination with superovulation and has been shown to optimize the pregnancy rates in superovulation cycles.
Several preparation of gonadotropins are available include Gonal-F®, Puregon® and Menopur®. Gonadotropins are also used in IVF cycles where many eggs are required.
All gonadotropin superovulation cycles must be administered and monitored by an infertility specialist. They are monitored with blood estrogen levels and pelvic ultrasounds to assess follicular growth. These tests are performed every few days in the early part of the stimulation cycle. Towards the end of the cycle they are performed more frequently, depending upon each patient's individual response. Ovulation induction cycles are followed by an injection of HCG to trigger ovulation. Intrauterine inseminations are performed 36-38 hours after hCG administration. In an IVF cycle, egg retrievals are also timed using hCG.
The most common side effects with superovulation include discomfort or "fullness" in the lower abdomen, bloating, headache or fatigue. The most significant potential risks are multiple pregnancies and ovarian hyperstimulation. The majority of multiple pregnancies are twins; however, more than two fetuses can sometimes develop. Pregnancy with three or more fetuses places both the mother and fetus at high risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery and bleeding. The risk of high order multiples is higher in superovulation cycles than IVF cycles because the number of eggs ovulated cannot be precisely controlled.
Ovarian hyperstimulation typically occurs 5-7 days after hCG injection and occurs in 1-2% of superovulation cycles. If pregnancy results, the ovarian enlargement may persist for up to six weeks. In general, the symptoms associated with ovarian hyperstimulation are mild and may include lower abdominal pain, heaviness and bloating. Sometimes shortness of breath may also develop. It is less common for hyperstimulation to result in severe medical problems. Close monitoring of the ovarian stimulation by ultrasound and laboratory tests are used to minimize the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
|
Frequently Asked Questions |