What Happens After IUI Day By Day?

Infertility or a miscarriage can be mentally draining and emotionally challenging. Couples often get tired of the questions they get asked by society. Although not for others, we normally want our families to grow. But, some of us are not capable of conceiving or impregnating a woman. 

You should be glad that you are currently in an era where almost everything is possible through technology. We have an array of infertility treatment options ranging from medicines to various other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). It is common for couples to consider these treatment plans. Nearly most couples choose either an IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) or an IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) because the success rates of these procedures are comparatively higher than the rest. However, you cannot expect to be pregnant the next day when you open your eyes after the surgery. Instead, you will have to wait for at least the next 14 days to see whether implantation has taken place or not. We understand these two weeks can be pretty much nerve-racking for you. But, if you are finally getting to hear the congratulations for being pregnant, then you will realize everything was worth the effort. 

In this article, we are going to discuss the occurrences that you can expect after IUI day by day. But before entering into that, isn’t it necessary for you to get a better understanding of IUI? So, scroll down. 

Understanding IUI 

Intrauterine Insemination is one of the most popular and recommended treatments to overcome infertility. There is a lot that happens before and after the surgery. First of all, understanding the true cause of your infertility is important so that you and your doctor can together decide which treatment plan will work for you. Once that is done, and if the doctor suggested you with an IUI, then you should immediately start to prepare your body. The procedure is usually carried out during the ovulation period of the female partner to ensure that she is in her most fertile stage. 

The process involves the transfer of sperm directly into the uterus to fertilize the egg. Following that, the implantation is expected in the next few days. All these while, your body is expected to release pregnancy-supporting hormones so that your pregnancy can complete a full term. 

Sometimes, a female body does not produce quality eggs, which might affect the chances of fertilization. Hence, doctors recommend ovulation induction medication to urge your ovaries to produce multiple eggs in one month. A course of hormone medication is also advised when your body fails to produce an adequate amount of pregnancy hormones. 

How is IUI Treatment Done? 

The procedure involves fertilization of the egg in the body of the female receiver without the means of sexual intercourse. The following are the two important steps of an IUI: 

Stimulating Ovulation

Ovulation is a natural process that takes place once every month. When ovulation is stimulated, multiple eggs are released and it increases the fertility of a woman tremendously, thereby increasing the chances of conception. 

Introduction of Sperm into the Uterus 

The sperm is collected and washed before placing them into the uterine cavity. Since it separates the sperm from the semen, the injected liquid will only contain a bunch of sperm and this also helps in reducing the irritation caused by the seminal fluid. For the transfer of the sperm, a catheter (narrow needle) is used. It is a painless process, however, you may expect crampings once after the completion of the surgery. 

What Happens After IUI Day by Day? 

Once the procedure is completed, you are supposed to take as much rest as possible to ensure that you do not lose the pregnancy just because of your carelessness. Also, quit smoking and drinking and also eat healthy food and drink healthy beverages. However, let’s now learn what happens after IUI day by day. 

During the First 3 Days 

In the early days, you are likely to experience light spotting. However, this may not be caused due to implantation but is one of the common experiences of every woman undergoing IUI. However, excessive bleeding requires immediate medical attention.    

After Day 6 

There is a high chance to experience spotting or bleeding after a couple of days of the surgery. This type of bleeding is caused by implantation and therefore is commonly called implantation bleeding. Since the bleeding is an indication of pregnancy, it is considered to be normal. 

After Day 10

During these days, you may start to experience the early symptoms of pregnancy such as dizziness, constipation, vomiting, and breast tenderness. Yet, this is not common for everyone. 

After 2 Weeks 

The first two weeks after the IUI procedure is really important as it is when implantation takes place. Fertility experts usually recommend a pregnancy test after 14 days. By two weeks, your hormone levels are expected to increase to the extent that it becomes detectable. If you want, then you can take a home pregnancy test after 14 days of the IUI procedure. Since the accuracy of the results cannot be guaranteed in these types of tests, the doctors usually recommend proper pregnancy tests at the clinic. Once the results turn out to be positive, your doctor will start prescribing suitable medications. 

While some women experience pregnancy symptoms during this period, others may not have it even if the procedure was a success for them.

What To Do After IUI?

Immediately after the procedure, you will be asked to rest for the next 30 minutes to ensure that the injected sperm may reach its destination. Once you are ready to go, your doctor will get you some medicines that are meant to increase the chances of conception. 

After IUI, you must abstain from doing the following activities:

• Bending Over
• Excessively Pushing Your Guts
• Taking Non-Prescribed Supplements
• Engaging in Sexual Intercourse 
• Lifting Heavy Objects 
• Smoking
• Consuming Alcohol

Meanwhile, you are also supposed to incorporate the following activities: 

• Walking 
• Sleeping for 8 hours
• Eating healthy food 
• Take Medicines as Per Recommended By the Doctor

When To Test For Pregnancy After IUI?

You must be putting your sweat and blood into doing these treatments but that is not everything that is required here. Patience is what we require the most when it comes to infertility procedures. You will at least have to wait for the next 14 days to test for pregnancy, because, pregnancy hormones like hCG takes time to increase their levels in your body. The pregnancy kits that you get from a local drugstore usually work on the basis of hCG levels. If hCG is detected, it shows that you are pregnant, and if not, then the test will conclude that you are not. It is the problem that is most likely to occur when you are testing before the prescribed time. You end up getting the wrong test results. 

After the treatment, waiting to see the results can be quite challenging. It is understandable though. But it is important to stay calm with a positive mindset to get the desired outcome. You have already come a long way, so why not you wait another 2 weeks to carry out a pregnancy test?

If you are pregnant, you will be able to sense that if you pay careful attention to the symptoms shared by your body.       

Read More:- After IUI, How To Confirm Pregnancy?

Signs Of Implantation

Although the signs of implantation are not the same for everyone, you may still be able to feel the change when the embryo is getting implanted into the uterine wall. Most implantation symptoms mimic menstruation symptoms and they are as follows: 

Bleeding or Spotting 

Although spotting immediately after is not an indication of implantation, it becomes a hint when seen after 5-7 days. This is because some uterine cells get dislodges when the embryo implants into the uterine wall. 

Vaginal Discharge 

After implantation, it is common to see vaginal discharge, specifically of white color. Although a white discharge is common for most women, it is considered to be an indication of implantation after IUI. However, you should not get confused between a symptom and a side effect. In the coming section, we are going to discuss the potential side effects of IUI.

Side Effects Of IUI

While IUI is highly beneficial for infertile couples, it does come with a few side effects. Although these side effects are not that serious, it is important to understand them so that you do not panic. Here are a few of the common side effects of IUI: 

• Breast Tenderness
• Rash or Swelling Around the Injected Area  
• Painful Ovaries 
• Ovarian Cysts 
• Bloating 

When you see these symptoms, you should immediately report them to your doctor, so that these side effects are treated as soon as possible. 

Conclusion 

IUI has been one of the most recommended infertility treatment options for a very long time. Most couples are benefitted from this and their IUI success stories have been influencing other infertile couples ever since. However, you are supposed to keep track from the very first day of IUI to see whether the treatment is bringing any results or not. This way, you can also spot any potential side effects and prevent them from being adverse. Take an appointment with your doctor whenever you feel something is abnormal. Moreover, keep a positive mindset throughout this journey.