IUI, Explained

What it's for, how it's done, and what the numbers say.

IUI comes up early in a lot of fertility conversations, usually with no explanation attached. You nod along, then look it up later, or you don't.

It's often the first medical step toward pregnancy, and the least invasive one. Here's what it actually involves.

Start here

IUI stands for intrauterine insemination: placing prepared sperm directly inside the uterus around the time an egg is released.

In an unassisted cycle, sperm travels a long way, and most of it never finishes the trip. IUI shortens the route. A lab concentrates the strongest, most active sperm into a small sample, and a thin catheter delivers it past the cervix, high into the uterus and close to the fallopian tubes. It doesn't force fertilization or guarantee a pregnancy. It improves the timing and raises the odds.

When a provider suggests it

IUI comes up for specific reasons. The most common is ...