The success rates of IUI for a single cycle can be anywhere around 10-20% per cycle. This success rate can progress to as high as 70-80% with multiple rounds of insemination. That being said, this rate of success is equivalent to the chance of pregnancy infertile couples(naturally) with no medical intervention.
However, there are certain parameters that may influence the success of IUI and this includes:
Maternal age
The rate of fertility goes down with age and therefore the age of the individual is likely to influence the success rate of IUI. Individuals below the age of 35 will have a success rate between 10-20%, while those who are in the age group of 35-40 will have a success rate of 10% for one IUI cycle. Although in individuals who are in their mid-40s, the success rate drastically drops down to 2-5%.for one cycle. Just like fertility, the success of IUI drops with age! Hence it is ideal to get started with the treatment as soon as possible.
Fertility issues
Intrauterine insemination is recommended in couples with infertility issues. Same-sex couples planning to have a child can opt for IUI with donor sperm. In most cases, it is recommended for people with endometriosis, low sperm count and poor sperm motility, unexplained infertility, ovulatory dysfunction, and various other underlying conditions. However, the success rate of IUI varies depending on the severity of the infertility issues.
Sperm sample
The quality of the sperm is a vital requirement for appropriate fertilization. It doesn’t matter if the sperm sample is from the male partner or the donor but the quality of the sperm is crucial. IUI is recommended to overcome various male infertility issues like poor motility and low sperm count. However, the success rate of IUI depends on the ability of the sperm to penetrate and fertilize an egg. Poor sperm quality affects the success rate of IUI.
Fertility medications
IUI is performed with or without the use of fertility drugs. Generally, these drugs are prescribed to induce ovulation. During ovulation, multiple eggs are released for fertilization. Medications that are often prescribed along with IUI include ;
clomiphene citrate, aromatase inhibitors, and gonadotropins like hMG, FSH, and hCG. The success of these fertility treatments is highly dependent on the parameters mentioned above. Apart from that, the number of IUI cycles attempted also influences the success rate. If there is no positive outcome with intrauterine insemination, the doctor would recommend a different combination of medications. In spite of this, if the couple doesn’t get pregnant, then the doctor would suggest another assisted reproductive procedure like IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) OR ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).