When a women under 35 has been unable to get pregnant after having regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for one year, she should undergo infertility diagnostic testing. Both timed intercourse and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) are proven methods of increasing a woman’s chances of conceiving a baby, according to Dr. Randy Morris – founder and Medical Director of IVF1. The Doctor has compiled some facts to lessen your confusion about the basic differences between IUI and timed intercourse.

Timed Intercourse

During each monthly cycle, a woman is fertile approximately five days before she ovulates until 24 hours after ovulation. This 6 day period – ovulation window – is the limited survival times of the sperm and egg.

• Sperm lifespan = 5 days
• Ovum lifespan = 24 hours

These are the 6 days in a woman’s menstrual cycle when pregnancy is at its highest potential. A guided timing of intercourse coinciding with ovulation will improve conception rates.If a woman has sexual intercourse five days before she ovulates, her probability of pregnancy is about 10 percent. A recent study has shown that the chance of pregnancy following intercourse without ovulation prediction is approximately 13 percent. The chance of pregnancy following timed intercourse increases conceptions rates between 14 and 23 percent.The probability of pregnancy rises steadily until the two days before and including the day of ovulation. At the end of the ovulation window, the probability of pregnancy declines precipitously by 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. After this window, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant throughout the remainder of that single cycle.Timed intercourse is one of the simplest and cost-effective treatment options for helping a couple to conceive a baby. Working with a fertility specialist to correctly time intercourse during a woman’s ovulation window should be considered.Timed intercourse is only recommend for women:

• Who have unobstructed fallopian tubes
• Who have a normal uterine cavity
• Whose partner does not have unexplained male factor infertility

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

A typical IUI cycle – artificial insemination – involves the use of fertility medications to stimulate the growth of multiple egg follicles (Clomid) and induce ovulation (hCG). Medication (progesterone) is also administered to prepare the woman’s uterine lining for implantation of the fertilized egg.IUI is commonly prescribed as a first treatment option for unexplained fertility when timed intercourse has failed. Unexplained infertility is when a woman has been unable achieve pregnancy after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.After her menstrual cycle has been regulated, a woman is administered a prescribed regimen of Clomid alone – or Clomid in combination with a low dose of Gonadotropin (FSH/LH) injections – during her cycle to stimulate egg follicle growth.Once Dr. Morris has determined the prime time to induce ovulation of the multiple egg follicles developing, the patient will be instructed when to administer an hCG injection – the ovulation trigger medication.IUI substantially increases a woman’s chance of getting pregnant because a highly concentrated amount of morphologically normal, mobile, and active sperm are placed directly into the woman’s uterus at the time of ovulation.IUI is performed within the comfort and warmth of IVF1’s patient rooms in the brand new Naperville Fertility Center. IUI is an office procedure that does not require anesthesia. The best IUI treatment provider in Chicago – Dr. Randy Morris – will substantially increase your chances of having a baby through IUI. According to Dr. Randy Morris, IUI is commonly recommended for women under 35 – who:

• Have unobstructed fallopian tubes
• Have a normal uterine cavity
• Have male partner with a low sperm count or other sperm deficiencies
• Are using donor sperm

Diagnostic Testing

At IVF1, diagnostic testing can help to determine a couple’s best option of getting pregnant – quickly and cost-effectively – via IUI or timed intercourse.

• Ovarian Reserve Tests – AMH Ovarian Reserve
• Hysterosalpinogram (HSG)
• Hysterosonogram (HSN)
• Infertility Ultrasound
• Progesterone Testing
• Cervical Mucus Testing
• Embryoscopy – Miscarriage Hysteroscopy

IUI Procedure

• The development of the patient’s egg follicles are monitored throughout the woman’s egg growth stage of her cycle with blood level hormone measurements and pelvic ultrasounds.
• The doctor determines the prime time to induce ovulation via hCG injection administration.
• The patient’s male partner’s sperm specimen is produced in the doctor’s office (or frozen donor sperm is retrieved) and prepared in a laboratory setting using special viability enhancement solutions.
• The semen specimen is washed and prepared for insertion into the woman’s uterus using an insemination catheter.
• The preparation and insertion of the sperm assures that a highly concentrated amount of mobile and active sperm are placed directly into the woman’s uterus.
• Usually 2 IUI inseminations are performed after the hCG ovulation release injection – between 12 and 36 hours after administration – to increase the chance of conception.
• IUI provides a low cost infertility treatment alternative for increasing a woman’s chance of pregnancy.

Preeminent IUI Fertility Specialist

IVF1 is a high-tech fertility center having a spa-like atmosphere intertwined with friendly, experienced, and individualized patient care. You will be invited into a calming environment encompassing soothing music and an appealing color scheme. IVF1’s ambience has been scientifically designed to reduce your stress and enhance your chances of getting pregnant.

• Licensed State-of-the-Art Surgery Center
• Warm and Welcoming Patient Rooms and Offices
• Highly Advanced IVF Laboratory
• Computerized Medical Records System
• Digital Imaging
• Building-Wide Environmental Control System
• Engineered for Peak Performance, Comfort, and Results
• High Level Air Filtration
• High Quality Materials
• Intelligent Laboratory Layout

IVF1’s state-of-the art fertility center is located 30 miles from Chicago and is a fully licensed Illinois ambulatory surgical center uniquely focused on the treatment of infertility and successful reproduction.

• Peak Performance
• Calm, Comfort, Care
• Increased Pregnancy Success Results

IVF1 Fertility Center

IVF1 was founded by Dr. Randy S. Morris and he remains the center’s Medical Director today. Dr. Morris has enjoyed a dramatic increase in pregnancy success rates since the opening of IVF1’s brand new facility in the Naperville Fertility Center.

• Morris is has been practicing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) since 1992 in the Chicago regional area
• Morris is the leading provider of top-notch fertility treatment services for men and women in Chicago
• Morris is Board Certified in
• Infertility Treatment
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Morris is the Appointed Associate Clinical Professor of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Illinois, School of Medicine
• Morris is the recipient of the President’s Award, Society for Gynecologic Investigation
• Morris is the recipient of the Practicing Physician Award, Pacific Coast Fertility Society
• Morris is an active and contributing member of prominent society memberships:
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
• Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI)
• Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART)
• Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
• Read more about Randy Morris in the News

For over 20 years, Dr. Morris has provided patients with the highest quality Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) health care. Dr. Morris and the knowledgeable fertility specialists and nursing staff at IVF1 will carefully and compassionately guide you through your struggle with infertility.

IUI Options

Discover your fertility treatment options at IVF1. Dr. Randy Morris invites you to meet with him personally at the Naperville Fertility Center. To schedule a consultation, please call 630.357.6540. You can consult with Dr. Morris through a secured Infertility Video Consultation.