Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI) which may also be called Intra Cervical Insemination (ICI) is a method of using needleless syringe or other instruments to inject sperm near the cervix or into the uterus to improve the chances of fertilization by increasing the number of healthy sperm that reach the fallopian tubes when the woman is most fertile.
Couples experiencing infertility due to medical conditions such as low sperm count or quality or endometriosis can adopt ICI to increase the chances of getting pregnant.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended as a substitute for advice from a medical professional. Before following any instructions in this article, it is important to consult a fertility to ensure that it is right for you.
Who Should Consider ICI?
- ICI works for people who are trying to conceive, especially, men who may not be able to pregnant a woman through intercourse because of low sperm count or low sperm quality.
- It may also be adopted where a woman has difficulty in getting pregnant owing to endometriosis or cervical blockage.
- ICI may also be useful to single women who want to become pregnant using donor sperm.
ALSO READ: How to Give Birth to a Twin Baby
Benefits of ICI At Home
- ICI at home using fresh sperm can save you a lot of money. It is a cheap and reliable option that has similar success rates to intercourse.
- Insemination at home gives comfort for you to do it at your own pace. You can do it whenever and wherever pleases you. It is far less stressful than the tedious scheduling with a fertility clinic.
- Unfamiliar medical processes like IUI gets people nervous. Getting it done in your privacy in your own home and away from strangers can ease some of the stress.
Risks of Intra Uterine Insemination at Home
ICI at home has some known risks, although it is far safer than most other procedures. One of the risks is “Infection”. Infection may arise if you are reusing devices. Ensure that all tools are sterilised before and after use. You can sterilize the tools by rinsing them in hot water.
How to Perform Insemination (ICI) At-Home
Performing Intracervical Insemination (ICI) at home is a very easy process.
The required tools are Needleless syringe with a plunger or oral medical syringe or hose use for drip and collection cup.
IntraUterinel Insemination (IUI) Steps
- Get the semen into a collection cup.
- Insert the syringe into the collection cup and pull back slowly on the plunger or suck with a hose.
- As the women, get into a position on your back and with your hips raised (use a pillow under your hips if needed). You may also get into a “Doggy position”
- Gently insert the syringe or hose into the vagina until it enters to the cervix, but be careful to avoid injury or pain.
- Slowly push down on the plunger to eject the sperm.
- To have an orgasm to increase the success rate. This can help the cervix pull up sperm in case you injected the semen near the cervix.
7: Thoroughly rinse the devices with clean hot water to sterilize them, especially if you want to reuse them.
You may also make sure that this is a position that you can stay in for at least 30 minutes.