What Your First IUI Cycle Will Be Like

When another cycle begins, it's really depressing. Not only do you get cramps and bleed, you have to deal with the reality of another month passing without getting pregnant. But this is when the process of undergoing IUI begins.

When you get your period, your fertility clinic will have you contact them that day. Then you will be scheduled for a cycle day 3 baseline scan. IUI and fertility treatment in general involves a lot of last minute appointments that can't really be planned in advance. The cycle day 3 baseline scan will be an intrauterine sonogram. They'll check out your ovaries and make some initial measurements of your follicles. On this day you'll probably begin taking letrozole or clomid, which are drugs that serve to stimulate follicle growth in your ovaries. You'll also have a prescription for a trigger shot, likely Ovidrel, which will come into play later.

You'll have peace for about a week after that. Then on cycle day 10 you'll go back for another follicle scan. Depending on the measurement of your largest follicles, you'll be asked to come back in two days. You'll have to come in every other day until one of your follicles reaches about 18mm. Your follicles will grow about 2mm a day, so if you pay attention during your scans, you can get an idea of when you'll reach that point.

Once you have an 18mm follicle, you'll have to administer a trigger shot to yourself. You'll get instructions with the shot. You want to tap the syringe to remove air bubbles, prime it by pushing out a drop, then pinch your skin about an inch or two away from your belly button, slightly above it or below it and to the side. You'll push the needle into your skin there at an angle rather than perpendicular to your body. It's a thin needle, so it won't hurt too badly. You'll probably do this at night, and 36 hours later, you'll have your IUI appointment. The trigger shot does exactly what it sounds like it does: it triggers your follicle to burst, releasing an egg. This provides better control over the timing of ovulation and allows you to pinpoint the best timing for insemination.

Just because you're doing IUI doesn't mean that you aren't going to do things naturally too. Just like for a semen analysis, you'll want to have intercourse about 2 days before your IUI, probably the same night you give yourself the trigger. After that, you'll abstain until the morning of your IUI, when your husband will provide his semen to the fertility clinic. The clinic will wash the sperm, which helps remove the suboptimal portion of the sample. The washing process takes at least an hour, after which you'll return to the clinic to actually begin the procedure.

The procedure itself is mildly uncomfortable. They will ask you to have a full bladder so they can see better with the sonogram device. The wand will be pressed pretty hard against your abdomen, and with a full bladder, it's a lot of pressure. They will be positioning a super skinny catheter in your cervix to inject the sperm directly into your uterus. The sonogram device is used to visualize the positioning. Once the catheter is in place, you will be able to see the sperm going in on the screen. They'll have you lie still for about ten minutes, then you'll be able to go about your day.

You'll want to take it easy for the rest of the day. You'll be instructed to have intercourse that evening and also the next day. Then you'll have another more relaxed week.

One week after your IUI you'll need to do a blood test to check your progesterone. Provided your levels are in the normal range, then you'll wait one more week for a home pregnancy test.

IUI takes all the human error out of trying to conceive. You control the ovulation, you control what sperm are used and where they go. Even still, IUI can only improve your chances so much. For a couple who has been trying to conceive for 18 months, on their own, they only have about a 2% chance of success each month. IUI can take that up to 10%. The odds still aren't great, and the cost can be rather prohibitive, at more than $1,000 per cycle, plus the costs of medications. It will be up to you to decide if you think it's worth the time, money, and hassle.