Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Background: IUI is the process by which washed sperm is deposited in a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization of her egg. The goal of IUI is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and subsequently increase the chance of fertilization. The IUI procedure is simple and may be performed even if the woman is not receiving medication to improve her egg production. Many physicians will encourage women to take medications to stimulate the ovaries in order to increase egg production and, hopefully, the chance of achieving pregnancy.
The IUI procedure is short, involves minimal discomfort, and is often a less-expensive alternative to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The best candidates for IUI include those with the following characteristics: women who are under the age of 40, women without blocked fallopian tubes, women who have a hostile cervical condition, such as cervical mucus that is too thick, women requiring sperm donation, men who have mild sperm motility, count and morphology issues, and men with sexual or erectile dysfunctions.

Overall success rates for IUI are 15-20%. Chinese Medicine, however, can greatly improve these success rates by combining acupuncture, cupping therapy, all of which have a proven positive effect on conception and implantation.
Acupuncture can benefit IUI to regulate the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian axis thus balancing the hormones to produce an increased number of follicles and better-quality eggs, to increase the blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining to improve implantation rates, to relax the nervous system and decreases stress levels to dramatically improve chances of pregnancy, and to diminish the side effects of ovulation and hormonal support drugs. For men, acupuncture improves sperm samples by increasing semen counts, motility, and morphology thus aiding in the natural fertilization process during IUI.
Chinese herbs can benefit IUI by regulating the menstrual cycle, by increasing blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining to improve implantation rates, by improving egg quantity and quality, and by improving sperm production, motility and morphology to aid in the natural fertilization process during IUI.