What is intrauterine (artificial) insemination?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure in which the male partner’s sperm is collected and then processed to concentrate and isolate the best moving sperm and place them directly into the woman’s uterus. The insemination process itself is performed in a Pap smear-like fashion. A speculum is placed into the vagina, and when the cervix is visualized, a thin catheter is placed through the cervix and into the lower part of the uterine cavity. Once there, the sperm is injected and allowed to swim naturally from the uterine cavity into the fallopian tubes where it is expected to meet and combine with the female’s eggs. Intrauterine insemination is most effective when combined with some form of ovulation induction to promote additional egg development beyond the one egg that is typically produced each month.