Considering artificial insemination (AI) to get pregnant? Then, you need to research the latest artificial insemination success rates.
Some good news about artificial insemination
Actually, the artificial insemination success rates are quite high! Intrauterine insemination (IUI), which is a form of artificial insemination, may give you an 86 percent chance of getting pregnant.
But, don’t get too excited. This percentage is based on couples that ever get pregnant with artificial insemination. Usually, you’ll go through multiple cycles before getting pregnant. In fact, the success rates with artificial insemination drop to 10 to 20 percent for just one cycle.
Artificial insemination success rates for one cycle are slightly less than the success rates of couples that get pregnant each month from natural conception.
Still, if you or your male partner has infertility problems, artificial insemination may give you the boost you need to get pregnant and have a baby.
Find a fertility doctor who specializes in artificial insemination
Uterine vs. cervical insemination
There are two main types of artificial insemination: intrauterine insemination (IUI) and intracervical insemination (ICI).
With intrauterine insemination (IUI), the sperm deposit goes up into the uterus. With IUI, the chance of getting pregnant may be as high as 86 percent.Sperm are specially processed and washed before IUI. This sperm-washing process may lead to greater chance of pregnancy with IUI.
Intracervical insemination (ICI) involves the injection of sperm into the cervix. Success rates for (ICI) are around 50 percent.
Surging hormones and insemination timing
To boost artificial insemination success rates, the insemination should be timed to coincide with the release of the egg.
A urine test can check for the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). Once the LH surge occurs, ovulation happens within a short time. Artificial insemination should take place within 24 hours of the LH surge.
Ovulation predictor kits are available that can be done at home. These tests show when the LH surge takes place, which may help increase your chance of getting pregnant.
Rest after artificial insemination?
The debate about the need to rest after artificial insemination is ongoing. Recently, researchers studied 400 couples that used IUI to conceive. They found that women who lie down for 15 minutes after IUI were 10 percent more likely to get pregnant during that cycle than women who got up after the procedure.
The group that rested had artificial insemination success rates of 27 percent. The group of women that got up quickly had lower pregnancy success rates at 17 percent.
Ask your doctor about resting after IUI, and see if this may help you to conceive.
Fertility drugs and artificial insemination
Fertility drugs may increase the chance of getting pregnant with artificial insemination. If you take these drugs before artificial insemination, your doctor will monitor you closely with blood tests and/or ultrasound.
It may take two
To boost your artificial insemination success rate, ask your reproductive endocrinologist about doing two inseminations during your cycle. Some research has shown that two inseminations are better than one. Your doctor can advise you for your situation.
What decreases artificial insemination success rates?
Both fertility problems and your age affect success with artificial insemination.
Women with fertility problems have a lower than average chance of getting pregnant with AI. Women younger than age 35 are more likely to get pregnant with artificial insemination than women over 35.
Also, if your partner has male-factor infertility due to problems with sperm, this will affect your pregnancy success with artificial insemination. You may want to consider donor sperm with artificial insemination.
Sources: American Pregnancy Association: “Intrauterine Insemination: IUI.” Resolve: “Medical Aspects of Donor Insemination.” NHS: “Lying down boosts insemination.” INCIID: “Overview of Fertility Medications.”
