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June 24, 2026
IUI, Explained
IUI is often the first step in a fertility journey. Here's what it actually involves, who it's right for, what the success rates show, and what it costs.
What your lining is supposed to do, what "a good response" looks like, and where the practice transfer fits.
Before a frozen embryo transfer, your clinic spends a couple of weeks watching your uterine lining on ultrasound, adjusting your medication, and timing everything down to the day. Most of that happens without anyone explaining what they're looking for.
The mock cycle is a practice run of the transfer protocol, no embryo involved. It's where your team sees how your body responds while there's still time to change the plan.
A frozen embryo transfer (FET) doesn't place an embryo on a random day. The lining has to be built and timed first, with hormones, usually estrogen to thicken it, then progesterone to mature it and open the short window when an embryo can implant.
A mock cycle runs that sequence as a trial. Some clinics do a dedicated practice cycle; others watch your lining during the real prep cycle and adjust as they go. Either way the goal is the same: confirm the lining gets where it needs to be before the transfer counts. Canada's fertility society is clear that these protocols should be ...
With a background in nursing and a genuine passion for care, Jessie supports myStoria members as part of the Concierge team.
