There is a general preference among women to undergo Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), and most of the reason stems from it being the more affordable option. Also, IUI gained a reputation for being less invasive and more natural than other well-known fertility treatments like IVF. In fact, the two are often the only ones that are discussed and compared as far fertility treatments go. Indeed, any good IUI fertility treatment Az, assuming you are an Arizona resident, will say the same thing. They might even proceed to explain the difference between the two should you inquire more about your options.
Generally, like most who are considering undertaking the treatment, the first question asked is almost always the chances of a successful pregnancy should IUI be used. We are going to say outright that the rates are lower in IUI compared to IVF. This is why most women tend to just use the former as a precursor for the latter. However, plenty of women do have successful pregnancies with the help of IUI alone.
What Are the Sucess Rates of IUI?
When it comes to determining the chances of conception using IUI, age is definitely the number one factor to look at. And arguably, this applies to pretty much any kind of fertility treatment. That said, we listed the success rates below for your ready reference:
- Women who are 35 years and younger have the highest chance of conception with a range of 10 to 20%. This pales in comparison to IVF, which has twice the success rate at 40% for women in those ages. Even so, as every patient’s situation differs from one another, a fertility treatment center Scottsdale may suggest to just rely on solely IUI, especially if infertility is not severe.
- Women past 35 and are not above 40 only have a 10% chance of a successful pregnancy.
- This is further halved to 5% and decreases even more to 2% for women who are above 40.
Take note that since IUI is applied in multiple cycles, these chances apply for each one. Normally, it takes 3 to 6 cycles for a pregnancy to happen for women below 35 and have a relatively good fallopian tube and a substantial sperm count from the male. This readily illustrates and suggests how many cycles might have to be done for older women. But that’s assuming they rely solely on IUI to attain pregnancy.
Is There a Way to Boost Your Chances?
Certain fertility drugs can, more or less, exert an influence on success rates. Nonetheless, not all doctors use them in treatments. If they do decide to prescribe them, they often use Letrozole (Femara) or clomiphene citrate (Clomid).
Other possible strategies include injecting ovulation-boosting medications like follicle-stimulating hormone or a human menopausal gonadotropin prior to the start of an IUI cycle. That said, do ask about these drugs with your doctor before you undertake treatment as they will certainly aid in inducing pregnancy.
Top Advice from Women Who Have Undergone IUI
While these tips might not have much of an effect on your chances of pregnancy using IUI, they will ensure that you will be at your best once you start the cycles. Plenty of these come from women who have first-hand experience of IUI and many can attest to having resulted in successful pregnancies. Without a doubt, these guidelines will also be supported by any great fertility treatment Scottsdale.
- Take the Time to Find out and Select the IUI Procedure That Is Right for You
Before you choose an IUI fertility treatment Az clinic, be sure to ask them about the procedure that you will have to undertake. Will you be using fertility drugs? If yes, take the time to know what will be used and ask your doctor why they are required. Inquire about the necessity of timing when taking them. Also, most treatments include sperm washing, so be sure to inquire about that and how involved your partner will have to be for the entire procedure.
- Keep Yourself Healthy
In fact, even better if you treat yourself like you were already pregnant. It goes without saying that a woman’s fertility also hinges on her overall health. So take extra steps in doing just that by sticking to a healthier diet and staying hydrated during the period that you will undergo IUI treatment.
Experts suggest (even encourage) exercising but be sure to only do light exercises before and after a single IUI cycle. After all, exercise might cause the uterus to contract, which could interfere with insemination. Additionally, ask your physician whether certain supplements might be useful. Take note that you may have to request a prescription for some of them.
- Do Not Let Stress Get the Better of You
Of course, health applies to stress as well. Do your best to distance yourself from it as you are undergoing IUI. Many studies prove that high amounts of stress greatly reduces the chances of pregnancies. Assuming you do not know how to cope with what stresses you out, make sure you take the time to learn it. Afterward, try to discover activities that help you lessen it and make it a point to do them regularly.
- Refrain from Setting High Expectations
Knowing the relatively low chances of IUI, even for young women, do not expect the treatment to be successful from the get-go. This only saves you from disappointment and stress down the line. Take comfort in the fact that you can always just use IUI as a stepping stone for treatments with higher chances like IVF. This underscores the need to have an alternative should IUI not have favorable outcomes for you.
Conclusion
Assuming you choose a reputable IUI fertility treatment Az clinic, chances are, you will land a doctor who will offer you plenty of support throughout the whole treatment. As long as you an open line of communication with him and stick to the entire process, there is nothing to worry about. All the better if you come entirely prepared for the procedure. With the help of the tips we shared, this should not be an issue.