What is it?
It is a low-complexity treatment that involves placing a sample of sperm in the uterine cavity at the precise moment of the patient’s ovulation.
First and foremost, the patient must have at least one or both fallopian tubes open (assessed through hysterosalpingography or videolaparoscopy). This is a defining factor for recommending this type of treatment.
Patients who benefit the most are usually under 35 years of age, with good ovarian reserve, and with sperm parameters within normal or slightly altered ranges.
The goal is to monitor the growth of the ovulatory follicle through ultrasound to determine the exact timing of ovulation and perform the insemination accordingly.
When the follicle reaches the expected size, the procedure is scheduled, and medication is prescribed to ensure the patient’s ovulation within the following 36-40 hours, at which point intrauterine insemination is performed with the processed and selected sperm sample.
The efficacy of intrauterine insemination
The success rate per attempt is around 15%. That’s why it is advisable to repeat it 3 to 4 times before considering high-complexity treatments. After the age of 35, this efficacy decreases in line with the woman’s reproductive age.
What is the risk of multiple pregnancies with intrauterine insemination?
Performing ovulatory monitoring with ultrasound provides valuable information to reduce the probability of a multiple pregnancy by limiting the treatment to the growth of one or two ovulatory follicles at most. If the patient has a higher response than expected, it is recommended to suspend the treatment and resume it in a subsequent cycle.