Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility procedure in which washed, concentrated sperm is placed directly into the uterus at ovulation. IUI is not classified as ART under the Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act of 1992. The CDC does not track or publish IUI success rates. Clinical literature reports a 10–20% live birth rate per stimulated IUI cycle for patients under 35 with no tubal factor.
What IUI Is — Entity Attributes
| Medical classification | Fertility treatment — NOT Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) |
| CDC NASS tracking | Not tracked. CDC NASS covers ART only (procedures where eggs or embryos are handled outside the body). |
| Governing standard | ASRM Practice Committee Guidelines for IUI |
| Sperm source | Partner sperm or donor sperm (cryopreserved) |
| Ovarian stimulation | Optional. Natural cycle or stimulated (Clomid, letrozole, or low-dose gonadotropins) |
| Success rate — stimulated, under 35 | 10–20% per cycle (ASRM / peer-reviewed REI literature) |
| Cumulative success — 3–4 cycles | 30–50% depending on diagnosis and patient age |
| Fallopian tube requirement | At least one patent (open) fallopian tube required |
| Cost per cycle | $300–$1,500 (procedure only, excluding medications) |
The IUI Procedure — 3 Clinical Stages
IUI is performed in a clinic setting without anesthesia and takes 5–10 minutes. The three stages span approximately 2 weeks from cycle start.
Ovulation Monitoring
In a stimulated cycle, the patient takes oral medication (letrozole or clomiphene) or low-dose injectable gonadotropins from cycle day 2–5. Follicle growth is monitored by transvaginal ultrasound. When the dominant follicle reaches 18–20mm, an hCG trigger injection is administered. IUI is scheduled 36–40 hours post-trigger. In a natural cycle, ovulation is detected by home LH testing or serum LH monitoring.
Sperm Washing and Preparation
A sperm sample is collected on the day of the procedure. The laboratory separates motile sperm from seminal plasma using gradient centrifugation or swim-up technique. Washing removes prostaglandins and non-motile cells. The result is a concentrated suspension of motile sperm in culture medium, typically 0.3–0.5 mL.
Insemination
A thin catheter passes through the cervical canal into the uterine cavity. The washed sperm suspension is injected directly into the uterus. No sedation is required. The patient rests for 5–15 minutes post-procedure. A serum beta-hCG pregnancy test is performed 14 days after insemination.
IUI Success Rates — What the Data Shows
Why the CDC Does Not Track IUI
The Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act of 1992 mandates reporting for ART — defined as procedures where eggs or embryos are handled outside the body. IUI involves no egg handling. Sperm is introduced into the uterus while fertilization occurs in vivo in the fallopian tube. IUI falls outside the CDC NASS reporting requirement. No federal database publishes IUI success rates by clinic.
Clinical Literature Estimates
| Stimulated IUI, under 35, unexplained infertility | 10–20% live birth rate per cycle |
| Stimulated IUI, age 35–40 | 5–15% per cycle (declines with age) |
| Natural cycle IUI | 5–10% per cycle |
| Cumulative, 3 cycles, under 35 | 30–50% |
| Male factor infertility (moderate) | Reduced; IVF with ICSI often recommended |
| Bilateral tubal factor | IUI contraindicated — IVF required |
Source: ASRM Practice Committee Opinion; peer-reviewed REI literature. These are population-level estimates, not clinic-specific data.
IUI vs IVF — When to Use Each
| First-line treatment | IUI for unexplained infertility, mild male factor, donor sperm cycles |
| IVF indicated instead | Tubal factor, severe male factor, 3–6 failed IUI cycles, advanced age, PGT requirement |
| Cost | IUI: $300–$1,500 / IVF: $15,000–$30,000 per cycle |
| Success rate per cycle | IUI: 10–20% / IVF: 49.7% under 35 (CDC 2022) |
| Invasiveness | IUI: office procedure, no sedation / IVF: egg retrieval under sedation |
| CDC tracking | IUI: not tracked / IVF: mandatory NASS reporting |
Find IUI Clinics by City
The clinics in this directory offer IUI alongside IVF. Browse by city to find clinic contact details and CDC-reported IVF success rates.