Gonadotrophin Ovulation Induction and Intrauterine Insemination (OI/IUI)

Stages of Treatment

Downregulation

OI/IUI starts with the suppression (stopping) of your normal menstrual cycle, and we call this down regulation. To do this we will give you an injection called rostap on a specific day of your menstrual cycle. This may cause some menopausal type symptoms (for example, mild headache, hot flushes, mood swings). Usually, you will have a period around 1-2 weeks later. This period may be heavier than normal.

Stimulation

Around 2 weeks after prostap, we will perform a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound scan to look at your uterus and ovaries. If all is well at this stage, we will give you Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) injections to take at home every day. We will show you how to do these injections yourself.

Monitoring

We will monitor your response to these injections by doing regular transvaginal ultrasound scans and blood samples from day 8 of injections. Each woman’s response to this treatment is different and you may need to take injections anything from 8 to 20+ days. You will attend regularly for appointments to monitor your response while taking the stimulation injections. Depending on the results from the regular tests, we may change the dose of drug in your treatment to help stimulate your ovaries.

Unfortunately, some women may not respond to this treatment which means that none of the follicles in your ovaries grow. In this case we will stop the treatment and review your case. In other cases, too many follicles develop, and treatment is cancelled. This is to reduce the chance of becoming pregnant with more than one baby (Multiple pregnancy | Tommy's ) which has increased risks for mothers and babies.

Once a mature follicle has developed in one of your ovaries, and your endometrium has thickened, you will take an hCG booster injection. This hormone matures the egg and causes ovulation. You will be given this booster 40 hours before having your insemination. Please note that the timing of this injection is critical and it must be done at the exact time specified to you by the ACS staff.

IUI Sperm Sample (for male partners)

On the day of your partner’s IUI you will need to produce a fresh sperm sample. You should ejaculate 2 days before attending to provide your sample. On the morning of the planned IUI we will show you into a private room to produce your sperm sample.

Embryology staff will prepare the fresh sample to be transferred into your partner’s uterus.

IUI Procedure

The procedure is very similar to a smear test. A speculum is inserted into the vagina to pass a catheter through the cervix. Attached to the catheter is a syringe containing prepared (‘washed’) sperm. When the catheter is in the correct position, the operator will depress the syringe, and the sperm will be deposited into the uterus. The catheter is very fine and is normally not felt by the patient.

Please see Frequently Asked Questions - NHSGGC for more information.

Aftercare

After your IUI you will require progesterone to help support the endometrium. This is taken through vaginal pessaries 12 hourly until pregnancy outcome date. After the IUI a nurse will give you the date to do a pregnancy test at home and the email address to let us know the result.

Risks of OI/IUI

The main risk of OI/IUI is becoming pregnant with more than one baby at a time Multiple pregnancy | Tommy's. We will monitor you closely throughout treatment to try and prevent this.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a risk for anyone having stimulation of their ovaries with hormones. We will monitor you closely throughout treatment to try and prevent this, but it is important that you know the signs and symptoms. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) | RCOG

Gonadotrophin Ovulation Induction and Intrauterine Insemination (OI/IUI)

Gonadotrophin Ovulation Induction and Intrauterine Insemination (OI/IUI)

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