The IUI process at Penn Medicine: what to expect
You and your fertility doctor will decide if IUI is the right fertility treatment for you. We tailor the IUI procedure based on your needs and health history. Your care team will discuss your concerns and walk through the IUI process with you, so you’re informed every step of the way.
You take medications that help your body grow eggs at the beginning of your menstrual cycle. Ovulation induction medications may be pills or injections. If you ovulate regularly, you may choose not to take the medication and ovulate naturally.
Over the next two weeks, you’ll come to the clinic several times. We use ultrasound and blood tests to monitor your follicle development and hormone levels, which tell us when your eggs are ready for fertilization.
You receive a trigger shot—also called a gonadotropin injection—when your follicles are fully developed. The injection helps your body release mature eggs. If you’re ovulating naturally, the injection isn’t necessary.
We prepare or “wash” the sperm from your partner or donor in our on-site laboratory. Washed sperm has a higher concentration of live and active sperm than an unwashed sample, giving it a better chance of fertilization.
We schedule your procedure 24 to 48 hours after you receive the trigger shot or ovulate. You lie down and relax while your doctor uses a thin, flexible tube to place the washed sperm into your uterus. The procedure takes 5-10 minutes, and you should feel little to no discomfort. You remain lying down for a few minutes after the procedure.