Success After IUI
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is often the beginning of the fertility treatment journey. Creating a healthy environment for pregnancy is the first step to fertility success. Below are 4 tips to increase pregnancy success after IUI.
Tip #1: Avoid strenuous exercise
The patient can typically return to everyday activities right after the IUI procedure. Bedrest is not necessary, but activities should be pared down to a lower intensity. Intense exercise can cause premature contractions, preventing implantation. Low-impact exercises such as walking, yoga, and light aerobics are fine. High cardio exercises like jogging should be avoided.
Tip #2: Take prenatal vitamins
Vitamins ensure that the mother receives the necessary nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins often contain higher amounts of folic acid and iron than daily multivitamins. Folic acid is especially crucial for spinal development in children. Women should start taking prenatal vitamins when starting family planning. Even if the mother is not yet pregnant, prenatal vitamins will prepare the body.
Tip #3: Eat well
Eating to promote overall health can remove potential fertility roadblock. The growing baby will be entirely dependent on the mother for survival and development. The mother’s health will be the baby’s health. Creating as healthy an internal environment as possible can boost fertility. A diet rich in leafy greens, lean proteins, and healthy fats will promote wellbeing.
Tip #4: Have a backup plan
The fertility journey is often long and stressful. Many couples undergo multiple attempts before having a successful pregnancy. If a couple is unable to become pregnant after 3 IUI attempts, the fertility plan may need to be reevaluated. Though chances increase with each subsequent cycle, any attempt after the 3rd has a significantly reduced success rate. In vitro fertilization (IVF) will likely be the next step if IUI is unsuccessful.
What is IUI?
IUI is a form of fertility treatment. During the procedure, sperm is inserted directly into a woman’s uterus. Placing the sperm past the cervix and into the uterus cuts down on the distance sperm must travel before reaching the egg. The quicker the sperm reaches the egg, the higher the chance of fertilization.
Additional factors in IUI
IUI will likely involve the use of fertility medication to stimulate ovulation. Natural cycle tracking is a medication-free alternative method. Typically, the sperm is washed before insertion. Washing the sperm removes any chemicals that may interfere with fertilization. Sperm washing also separates the sperm from the semen, leaving behind a concentrated group of the most viable sperm.
Candidates for treatment
IUI is generally recommended for women at the beginning of the infertility journey. Women under the age of 35 must have been trying to conceive for 1 year without success. Women over the age of 35 should seek medical intervention after 6 months.
After IUI: what to do
IUI is a very viable option for women seeking to become pregnant. IUI is a more viable option for younger women; however, every individual is different. The best thing a mother can do after IUI to increase the chances of success is to relax and eat well. Taking care of the body is taking care of the future baby. For more information on IUI and fertility treatment options, speak with a fertility specialist.
