Why IUI Fails: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Not every couple is lucky enough to conceive within the first year of trying. Although most fertile couples get pregnant naturally, some face difficulty, indicating possible underlying medical conditions, hormonal imbalances, or poor lifestyle choices.

IUI treatment procedure is designed as an effective medical procedure for individuals seeking help in conceiving a child after failed natural or medical efforts. Several medical clinics and physicians are providing the right help to potential parents with IUI treatment. That said, IUI never always guarantees success. 

This article discusses in detail the IUI failure and symptoms and additionally provides medical advice on treatment for IUI failure along with details on the chances of natural pregnancy after a failed IUI. 

Understanding IUI Treatment

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a medical procedure to treat infertility. It is advised to potential parents who have tried all non-invasive medical procedures but are unable to conceive.

Here’s who it helps:

• Men and women with unexplained infertility 
• Women suffering from Endometriosis, Fibroids, Polyps, and other unusual uterine growths
• Men with borderline low sperm count or borderline low sperm motility.

IUI Treatment Procedure

In the IUI procedure, sperm collected from the recipient is placed directly into the woman’s uterus with the help of a thin tube called a catheter at the time of her ovulation, which is timed as per her menstrual cycle. The success of this procedure can be checked later with a simple pregnancy test at home or a visit to the gynecologist. 

This procedure is suitable for pregnancy as it includes minimal discomfort and provides better conception odds as the sperm is injected closer to its destination. Women might have mild cramping and spotting after the IUI procedure; other than that, IUI is considered to be a safe experience. 

Why IUI fails

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) procedure is followed for a successful pregnancy. However, there is a chance it may not work out for every couple. Here are a few possible reasons why IUI fails:

Timed Incorrectly: Ovulation is the phase of menstruation where the egg is released for fertilization. Fertilization of a sperm and egg leads to pregnancy. Ovulation is the best time for a woman to conceive, as the sperm can penetrate the egg in the fallopian tube, leading to successful conception. When the insemination through IUI is not timed correctly according to the menstrual cycle, the chances of a failed IUI increase. 

Poor egg quality: Women above 35 years are at increased risk of poor egg reserve and quality, which are a few common causes of infertility. If poor egg quality is the cause of your infertility, there’s a chance the IUI procedure may not work for you.

Existing Medical Issues: Underlying medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or Endometriosis can negatively impact the success of IUI treatment. 

Low Motility Sperm: Sperm with low motility and quality can also contribute to a failed IUI treatment. 

IUI Failure Causes 

• Low ovarian reserve: Less number of eggs in the ovarian reserve can lead to unsuccessful IUI treatment. 
• Age: Age is another prominent factor leading to IUI failure, as progressing ages can lead to less favorable conditions for pregnancy. 
• Fertilization window/Ovulation: Not matching the fertilization window of a woman as per her menstrual cycle can lead to an unsuccessful IUI procedure. 
• Fertility hospital and doctor: Not choosing a certified and experienced fertility hospital and doctor is extremely dangerous, leading to unsuccessful and harmful results. 
• Poor lifestyle choices: Consumption of alcohol and drugs, smoking, irregular sleep cycle, stress, and not participating in physical activities can negatively impact the physical and mental health of individuals, which can lead to a failed IUI procedure.  

IUI Failure Symptoms

After 15-16 days of the procedure, physicians recommend a pregnancy test at home. A negative result in your test indicates a failed pregnancy. 

Symptoms indicating a failed IUI are: 

• The onset of your menstrual cycle/ periods after getting the IUI procedure is an indication of a failed IUI. 
• No early symptoms of pregnancy like nausea, breast tenderness, etc. 
• Absence of implantation bleeding, which generally occurs 10-14 days after artificial insemination. 
• There is a change in cervical mucus, which is an indicator of pregnancy; if this change is absent, then it can be a symptom of IUI failure. 

All these symptoms are indicative of a failed IUI; however, it is prescribed to visit your fertility doctor for accurate results and advice on the chances of natural pregnancy after a failed IUI. 

Treatment for IUI Failure

The treatment for IUI failure varies as per your IUI failure causes and infertility issues. 

• Consider IVF: If your IUI treatment has failed, you can consider other procedures, such as In-Vitro Fertilisation, commonly known as IVF. In this procedure, the egg is fertilized outside the body in a lab to curb the possibility of errors in fertilization. 
• Overall changes in lifestyle: Positive lifestyle changes, like regular physical activities, a balanced healthy diet, and quitting alcohol and smoking, can lead to positive changes in your body and help during pregnancy. 
• Consult your doctor: Get your fertility doctor’s advice, discuss all the pros and cons and seek prescribed treatment only. 
• Try the procedure again: IUI is not supposed to be done only once in a lifetime, it can be performed again if the causes have been identified with precautions for a better chance at pregnancy. It is especially advisable for individuals just starting their journey with infertility treatment. 

At Plan B Fertility, we walk you through IUI and help you set realistic expectations for the treatment’s outcome. Having helped many couples conceive and deliver a healthy baby, Plan B Fertility does its best to help you have your biological children through the right procedure.