Intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be used with or without fertility drugs – when it is used with fertility drugs, it is known as stimulated IUI.
Before beginning IUI treatment, the best quality sperm are selected. They are then inserted into the womb at the woman´s most fertile time, when an ovary releases an egg (ovulation).
Stimulated IUI may increase your risk of a multiple birth because, when fertility drugs are used, a greater number of eggs may be produced than with a natural cycle. And unlike IVF, the clinic does not control the number of embryos that can develop, although they can monitor what happens.
If you are young, healthy and have a good chance of conceiving with stimulated IUI, your risk of having twins or more may be over 20%.
If you are undergoing stimulated IUI, you should discuss the following with your clinician:
The procedure for SET is the same as that for conventional IVF or ICSI (in vitro fertilisation or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) – the only difference is that only one embryo is transferred.