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Intrauterine Insemination

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a process of injecting sperm directly into a woman's uterus at the time of ovulation. IUI can use either a partner's sperm or donor sperm.

In this procedure, the man provides a semen sample. In the laboratory, the semen is "washed" to separate and concentrate the sperm. A doctor uses a soft tube (catheter) to deposit the sperm through the woman's cervix into her uterus at the right time in her cycle. IUI may be done in conjunction with drugs that stimulate ovulation.

IUI may be recommended for couples with unexplained infertility, when there is a problem with the man's sperm, or when there is an incompatibility between the sperm and the cervical mucus.

Platelet Activating Factor for Intrauterine Inseminations

Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) is a phospholipid present throughout the body including the male and female reproductive tracts. PAF is part of numerous cell-signaling pathways and was named for its role in platelet activation but it has several other functions involving reproduction. 

Studies1,2,3 have shown that the addition of PAF to sperm prepared for intrauterine insemination (IUI) can increase both the sperm’s motility and forward progression resulting in improved pregnancy rates. Pregnancy rates per cycle have increased on average up to 10% when PAF is incubated with sperm prior to insemination compared to inseminations with no PAF.

Due to these data showing improved pregnancy rates, the Fertility Center at University Women’s HealthCare will now incorporate sperm incubation with PAF for our IUI’s.  This will add approximately 20 minutes to the sperm preparation time but there is no additional charge.

At this time we are not using PAF for frozen sperm IUI’s as the data is limited with regards to its efficacy with frozen samples.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to discuss this with one of our Reproductive Endocrinologists.

References

  1. Roudebush WE. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis 2007;33:69-74.
  2. Roudebush WE, Toledo AA, Kort HI, Mitchell-Leef D, Elsner CW and Massey JB. Fertility and Sterility 2004;82:52-56.
  3. Grigoriou O, Makrakis E, Konidaris S, Hassiakos D, Papadias K, Baka S and Creatsas G. Fertility and Sterility 2005;83:618-621.