If the male partner has a chromosomal abnormality that has been documented, the sperm should not be used for IUI at all. Furthermore, the success rate of  IUI’s in people without any problems at all is between 18-20% per attempt. If you have compromised gametes, this chance of success will clearly be less.

- Answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

Menopur is likely to increase the estrogen level. The growth of the lining is dependant on the amount of estrogen, hence the use of the Menopur. Presumably you have had some sort of cavity assessment to exclude any pathology inside the uterine cavity that might lead to a thin lining?

- Answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

There are a few important issues:

-          How old are you?

-          What is your hormone status like?

-          What is the condition of your pelvis and uterine cavity?

-          Are your fallopian tubes open?

 If all of the above are in order and you are 26 years of age, the chance of conceiving per attempt with good quality sperm is around 18% – 20%. This is cumulative over a 3-4 month time period. The older you are the less the chance per attempt.

- Week 32 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

The latest publications suggest a period of 15 minutes.

- Bi-Week 30 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

The count has not increased. What you are looking at when it has been prepared for AI is a concentrated count.

- Week 18 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

Total count on full SA being 10 mil/ml is on the low side. One would therefore be inclined to move onto IVF/ICSI sooner rather than later.

- Week 18 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

Cramping post AI is not necessarily a bad sign. It is due to the presence of the sperm and media inside the uterus. A uterus always aims to be empty and therefore contracts in order to rid itself of anything on the inside but instead sucks the sperm into the fallopian tubes. It therefore varies from cycle to cycle and also might be due to a change in the media the sperm is prepared in.

With regards to the catheters: There are many types of insemination catheters. Some harder or softer than others. Which one is used usually depends on the clinician, in other words which he/she is comfortable in using.

- Week 18 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

As soon as the correct follicle size has been reached, ovulation should be triggered and the insemination should follow within the next 35 to 44 hours. Some clinics will do 2 consecutive IUI’s, following the trigger and some just one.

- Week 13 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -

When attempting an IUI, the following parameters should be kept in mind:
1)    Morphology more than 4%
2)    Inseminated motile count of more than 1 million/ml
3)    50% motility.

Unfortunately, with a sperm aspiration one would never be able to get to these parameters and therefore IUI with aspirated sperm will not be possible. Apart from that there is also the fact that sperm need to spend some time in the epididymus of the testicle in order to mature and have the ability to fertilise an oocyte. The only option would therefore be sperm extraction and ICSI.

- Week 13 answers kindly provided by Dr. Stephan Volschenk -