Intra-uterine insemination (IUI) with capacitated sperm of the partner:

A treatment often preferred before implementing the more laborious IVF/ICSI-technique, is IUI or intrauterine insemination.
No ova are being punctured the ovaries, but the sperm is pre-treated in the laboratory, as it is also the case with IVF. The capacitated motile sperm-cells are inserted painlessly with the help of a special fine catheter high in the uterine cavity.
The great advantage of this technique is that it is simple, it can be implemented on an outpatient basis and the costs of the laboratory procedure are lower than IVF. The disadvantage is that we do not know whether fertilisation occurs. However, when the doctor is of the opinion that first some IUI-cycles will avail you before going to IVF, he will certainly recommend you to do it.

The chances of a pregnancy with IUI in our centre (now with more than 1 000 treatment cycles) are about 10 to 15% per cycle and depend on the woman's age and on the indication of the treatment. Couples with immunologic infertility or unexplained infertility are the best candidates. Couples with severe male infertility loose time with IUI and should better choose IVF. Every aspect is discussed case by case with the couple following the weekly meeting with the staff.