What to Do After IUI to Increase Chances?

Intrauterine insemination, or, as it is widely known, IUI treatment, is an assisted reproduction technique. In this method, healthy sperm are washed and inserted into the uterus. So far, this technique could help numerous couples who couldn’t conceive a child in the usual way. Although the procedure and the time of IUI are of great importance, its aftercare plays a crucial role in increasing the chance of pregnancy.  

What Is IUI and How Is It Done?

IUI is a simple and outpatient operation that is used for treating infertility as well as sex determination. In this operation, the female should take ovulation induction drugs such as Clomiphene citrate and Aromatase inhibitors to increase egg production. The male partner should also provide a semen sample to the fertility lab. Then, the healthy and motile sperm are separated from the semen sample and inserted into the mother’s uterus by a narrow tube called a catheter.

After two weeks, the mother should take a blood or urine test to confirm the pregnancy. It is essential to wait at least 14 days before taking a pregnancy test because if you do it earlier, the result will be one of the following:

A. False negative: a false-negative result is when you are pregnant, but due to the low level of pregnancy hormone in your blood and urine, the pregnancy test is falsely negative.

B. False positive: a false-positive result is when you are not pregnant, but the pregnancy test is reported to be positive due to HCG injection.

How Many Days after IUI Does Implantation Happen?

In many women, implantation happens 6 to 12 days after IUI. The primary and first signs of implantation are menstrual delay and spots; however, it takes 10 to 14 days for the placenta to produce the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone. Therefore, you should wait two weeks before taking a blood test to confirm pregnancy. 

How to Increase the Chance of Pregnancy in IUI?

In IUI, the chance of pregnancy in a completely normal, fertile, and healthy couple is about 20% per cycle. Sperms can survive for about three days in the female reproductive system and can fertilize the egg within this period, but the egg can only be fertilized 12-24 hours after its release. Therefore, the time of IUI can highly affect the chance of pregnancy. In addition to the right timing, other factors increase the chance of pregnancy in IUI, such as:

Foods to Eat After IUI for Success:

Having a balanced and healthy diet can significantly help implantation after IUI. Eating more fruit (fresh or dry), vegetables, whole grains, nuts, oats, protein, healthy fats, and brown rice after IUI is recommended. In addition, you need to drink at least three litres of water a day. 

Sleeping Position after IUI:

After the IUI operation, the doctor will ask you to lie down for 20 minutes. After that, you don’t need bed rest and can continue your daily activities just as usual. However, you need at least 8 hours of sleep every day to have a healthy mind and body. Also, there is no urge to sleep on your back after IUI; you can sleep in whatever position you like. 

Exercise After IUI Treatment:

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to stay in bed 24/7 after IUI. Most specialists suggest that the mother exercise moderately for at least one hour a day. Physical activities such as walking, biking, yoga, and light aerobics are advised after IUI. However, strenuous activities such as lifting weights, professional swimming, pushing and pulling heavy objects, mountain climbing, etc., should be avoided after IUI.

Having a Healthy Lifestyle:

Having a healthy lifestyle can enhance the chance of successful pregnancy after IUI. Before and after IUI, you need to stop smoking and drinking alcohol because they negatively affect your general health and may cause abnormalities in your child.

Also, it is recommended to reduce junk food intake. Do not eat leftovers, low-fat dairy products, sugary sodas, salty and spicy snacks, and raw food after IUI. In addition, you need to get away from harmful radiations and chemicals as much as possible because they can quickly kill eggs and sperm or affect your child’s immune system. 

Taking Progesterone & Painkillers After IUI:

Taking medications just as they are prescribed is very important. Your doctor may ask you to take progesterone supplements to thicken your uterine lining and prepare your uterus for embryo implantation. You can take pregnancy-safe painkillers if you have mild pain or cramps after IUI. Remember that taking or cutting any medicine after IUI should be done after consultation with your doctor.

Preparing for IUI

Before performing IUI, it is necessary to consider the following tips.

For male partner:

• Keep your body temperature at an average level;
• Do not use the sauna and hot tub for a week before IUI;
• Avoid strenuous activities but exercise regularly to increase sperm count;
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages for three days before IUI;
• Stop smoking;
• Avoid sexual intercourse or ejaculation for three days before IUI, not more than that; 
• Take your semen sample to the andrology lab 15 hours before IUI; and
• Do not use lubricant, lotions, and saliva when providing semen samples. 

For female partner:

• Perform transvaginal ultrasound to check the condition of your uterus and ovaries; 
• Take lab tests for the determination of HIV as well as the antibodies of hepatitis B and C, rubella, etc.;
• Perform ultrasound of the mammary glands;
• Check your ovulation cycle regularly;
• Take ovulation induction drugs as well as other hormonal medications;
• Reduce your anxiety and stress;
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol;
• Take the recommended supplements and folic acid; and
• Have a healthy and proper diet.

What to Do after IUI?

After IUI, you’d better lie down for 20 to 30 minutes because you may experience cramps and mild pain in your abdomen right after the procedure. Since IUI is an outpatient operation, you will be discharged from the clinic on the same day, and you can rest at home.

Your doctor may ask you to take progesterone supplements. This medication will increase your body temperature, make you tired and nauseous, and weaken your muscles. So, having a caregiver by your side and getting enough rest every day after IUI is necessary.

It is worth mentioning that it takes 6 to 12 days for the embryo to attach to the uterine wall. During this period, take the following care:

• Avoid having sex until your doctor allows you to;
• Take necessary tests and ultrasounds;
• Do not lift, pull, or push objects heavier than 5 pounds;
• Do not bend over;
• Do not take unprescribed medications;
• If necessary, take vitamin supplements as well as folic acid;
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, even light ones;
• Heavy exercises are prohibited during this period, but you can do light exercises at home or go for a walk;
• Stay relaxed and think positively; and
• Have a balanced diet and eat more vegetables. Do not eat spicy dishes and foods that irritate your digestive system.

Things to Avoid after IUI

Following your IUI procedure, you can return to your normal life and do your everyday activities. However, you need to avoid a certain number of things in order to increase your chance of pregnancy. Read on to learn the things you should avoid after IUI:

• Avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, even light ones;
• Avoid having sex until your doctor allows you to;
• Do not bend over;
• Do not take unprescribed medications;
• Do not lift, pull, or push objects heavier than 5 pounds;
• Avoid having stress and anxiety as they can cause hormonal imbalance;
• Avoid strenuous activities such as lifting weights, professional swimming, mountain climbing, etc.
• Avoid going on a trip for at least seven days after IUI.

Foods to Avoid After IUI:

Avoid spicy and hard-to-digest foods such as Indian and Mexican ones, processed foods, sugary beverages, alcoholic drinks, and too much fish (due to having mercury) after IUI. Also, some doctors believe that fruits such as papaya and pineapple can act as blood thinners and break down the endometrial layer; so, before having them, consult your doctor.

Avoid Stress:

As recent studies have revealed, stress reduces the chance of pregnancy after IUI and prevents embryo implantation. Since stress imbalances hormones and disturbs blood circulation, it can make the uterus less receptive to the fertilized egg. So, it is important to reduce stress by doing meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. 

Factors Affecting the Success Rate of IUI

The success of IUI highly depends on several factors, including:

• Total motile sperm count (TMSC). A total motile sperm count of 20 million is sufficient for IUI;
• The age of the couple. The lower the age, the higher the quality of the egg and sperm;
• Lack of severe sperm abnormalities. If the sperm count is very low or the sperm has abnormal morphology, it cannot reach the egg. As a result, IUI is not suitable for men with severe sperm problems;
• The knowledge and experience of the doctor;
• The facilities of the fertility clinic;
• The number of preovulatory follicles. Having one or two mature follicles is enough for patients under the age of 38; 
• The proper size of follicles. The average size of mature follicles should be 20 mm;
• Frequency of IUI cycle. Most pregnancies that result from IUI occur in the third or fourth cycle of IUI;
• Lack of ovulation disorders. In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the ovaries produce fewer eggs than usual; 
• Lack of fallopian tube disorders. Patients who have (even one) open fallopian tubes have a higher chance of pregnancy by IUI;
• The type and dose of medications. Taking ovulation induction drugs, as well as hormonal medications, has a great impact on the success of IUI.

Follicle Size and Number for IUI Pregnancy

The size and number of the follicles play an essential role in the success of IUI. According to studies, the average size of a suitable follicle for pregnancy by IUI is between 18 to 22 mm. When the follicles reach the desired size, and the uterus lining is seven millimetres, HCG is injected, and then, 36 to 40 hours after injection, the IUI is performed.

Moreover, for each cycle of IUI, one or two mature follicles are enough. Developing more than two follicles increases the chance of multiple births and may endanger the life of both mother and the embryos. After drug treatment, women with more than four follicles are not allowed to do IUI. 

Signs of Implantation after IUI

About 6 to 12 days after IUI, the embryo attaches to the uterus. Then you can see the signs of implantation, such as: 

• Menstrual delay;
• Spotting or bleeding;
• Bloating and constipation;
• Cramping;
• Breast tenderness;
• Extreme fatigue; and
• Nausea, especially in the morning.

We should note that these early symptoms are sometimes false and result from progesterone injections, so it is necessary to wait 15 days before taking a pregnancy test.

IUI Failure: Causes and Symptoms

The failure of the IUI depends on several factors, including:

• Low quality of eggs;
• Poor quality of sperm;
• Ovulation disorders;
• Having too much stress that causes hormonal imbalance;
• Abnormal endometrial lining; and
• Lack of progesterone.

It is noteworthy that there is no symptom of IUI failure. The only way to diagnose failed IUI is by checking the vaginal discharges. Therefore, contact your doctor if you have unusual discharges after IUI implantation.

Repeating IUI Cycle 

You can repeat the IUI cycle almost three months after each failed IUI to increase the chance of successful pregnancy. According to investigations, 88% of successful IUI pregnancies have occurred on the third cycle, and 95% of pregnancies happened on the fourth cycle. 

Most fertility doctors recommend that couples under 40 repeat IUI three times to achieve a successful pregnancy. However, people over 40 are advised to use other fertility methods, such as IVF, if pregnancy does not occur after the first IUI cycle.

Read more: IVF Treatment, Process, and Conditions

Conclusion

In sum, IUI is one of the most helpful methods of assisted reproduction which is now used worldwide. Apart from the procedure itself, the IUI post-op cares are crucial for a successful pregnancy, so it is essential to consider the tips mentioned above after your IUI. 

As one of the main hubs in fertility treatments, Iran is a proper destination for couples seeking fertility treatments, including IUI.

In Iran, assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF, IUI, ICSI, etc., are done with the latest technologies and are reasonably priced. Here, you can get more information on fertility centres in Iran and the price of IUI in each city. Also, you can find the best fertility doctors in Iran and choose the most suitable package for you.

IUI Treatment in Iran