IUI may be suitable for:

• People with semen-related problems, such as low sperm concentration, low semen volume, poor sperm motility, or sperm that are not strong enough.
• People under 30 years of age, as the chance of success may decrease with increasing age due to possible deterioration of the uterus in women.
• People with pelvic problems, such as cervical stenosis, which makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterine cavity.
• People with chronic anovulation caused by conditions such as **Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)**.
• People with irregular menstrual cycles.
• People who want to become pregnant using **frozen sperm**.
• People who want to become pregnant but do not want to have sexual intercourse.
• People with a **semen allergy**, which causes vaginal redness or irritation when exposed to semen.
• People with normal fallopian tubes on both sides, or at least one functioning fallopian tube.

IUI may not be suitable for:

• People with both fallopian tubes blocked, preventing sperm from reaching the eggs.
• People with severe pelvic adhesions caused by advanced endometriosis.
• People who are unable to ejaculate or have fewer than 1 million sperm.
• Male or female partners, or both partners, who have previously undergone sterilization.
• People who have undergone IUI more than **3–6 cycles** without success.

• Undergo a physical examination and overall health assessment to determine whether there are any health conditions that may affect IUI, such as underlying diseases or infections.
• Check whether ovulation occurs normally, which may be assessed using ultrasound or blood tests.
• Check whether the endometrium is sufficiently thick to help increase the chance of embryo implantation.
• Stop smoking and avoid alcohol and all types of recreational drugs.
• Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
• The male partner should abstain from ejaculation for 2–3 days before intrauterine insemination.

The pregnancy rate following intrauterine insemination varies depending on the cause of infertility and the method of ovarian stimulation. Therefore, success rates may differ between institutions.

Factors that affect the success rate of IUI include:

• Age of the female partner
  As the female partner’s age increases, egg quality and endometrial quality may decrease.
• Number of IUI cycles
  The pregnancy rate is relatively good during the first 3 treatment cycles. Therefore, IUI is recommended for no more than **4–6 cycles**. If pregnancy does not occur, other infertility treatments such as IVF may be considered.
• Sperm quality
  Sperm quality is an important factor in IUI treatment because healthy and functional sperm are required to fertilize the female partner’s egg after the sperm has been injected into the uterine cavity.

The chance of pregnancy from IUI is approximately **10–20%**. If the female partner uses medication to stimulate the development and ovulation of more than one egg during the cycle, the chance of pregnancy may increase, along with the possibility of multiple pregnancy.

Complications from IUI may occur at different stages, including:

• Pregnancy-related risks, particularly when more than two fetuses develop in the uterus. This may result from the development of multiple eggs and can affect both the mother and the babies.
  Risks during sperm preparation, such as accidentally switching sperm samples between couples. This can be prevented through high-quality control systems. There may also be a risk of transmitting infectious diseases from the husband to the wife, particularly HIV.
• Complications from the insemination procedure, such as infection or inflammation in the uterine cavity. This may occur when bacteria from the vagina or cervix are introduced into the uterus during sperm injection. Other possible conditions include uterine contractions caused by irritation from insertion of the catheter.

• The female partner should remain lying down and minimize movement so that the sperm can move into the fallopian tubes more effectively, which may help increase the chance of pregnancy following IUI.
• **Avoid sexual intercourse** to prevent disturbing the uterus and to help the embryo implant properly. Sexual intercourse can be resumed after **2–3 days**.
• If there is vaginal pain or any unusual symptoms, consult a doctor promptly for evaluation and to check for complications.
• Approximately **2 weeks after IUI**, a home pregnancy test can initially be performed. However, the result may be inaccurate because the **hCG hormone injection used to trigger ovulation** may still be present in the body, potentially causing a false-positive result.
• A **blood pregnancy test at the hospital** should be performed to confirm the pregnancy, as measuring hormone levels in the blood provides more accurate results than a standard urine pregnancy test.