The first question that will come to your mind when you are deciding to undergo any fertility treatment is, “Is it painful?”
This question is the same for IUI, too. IUI is a fertility treatment where the sperm is collected from the male partner and injected directly into the female partner’s uterus.
The fear of pain has actually made several couples vary in undergoing IUI treatments to become pregnant. So, in this article, we will discuss whether IUI is painful and what you can expect from the procedure.
Is The IUI Procedure Painful Or Not
First, understand that each person’s body is different, and their pain tolerance level is also different. In that case, regarding pain during IUI, most women have reported that they do not feel much pain during or after the procedure.
You should understand that IUI is a minimally invasive procedure. It involves taking hormonal injections to grow your eggs and undergoing a transvaginal procedure to inject the sperm into your uterus.
During the first step, ovulation induction, you will be administered hormonal injections that will induce your ovaries to produce mature eggs. These injections can cause hormonal imbalance and might sometimes cause mild side effects.
The other procedure where you might feel a bit of pain or discomfort is insemination. Here, a speculum will be inserted into your vagina to hold them open. Then, a catheter containing the washed and concentrated sperm will be inserted into your uterus to release the sperm.
This step will be over within minutes, and you don’t need anesthesia during this procedure. You will only feel a bit of pain when the speculum is inserted, and it will disappear after some time.
How To Prepare For IUI Treatment
IUI is an important fertility treatment that can help you get pregnant. So, ensure you prepare yourself well before starting the procedure.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
This is one point your doctor would have emphasized. Whether you are trying for a natural pregnancy or fertility treatment, a healthy lifestyle is essential for a higher success rate.
This involves
- Maintaining a proper diet,
- Regular exercising,
- Avoiding unhealthy foods,
- Avoiding smoking, alcohol, etc.
Take the prescribed medications on time
Ater testing your condition, your fertility doctor would prescribe certain medications for you to take. Don’t skip any of them, and take them on time regularly.
Follow your doctor’s instructions
Your doctor knows your health and fertility condition better than you. So, if they ask you to follow something or quit something, do it. It will be beneficial to you during the treatments.
Stay calm and positive
Don’t panic or feel stressed whether your IUI cycle will be a success. Follow all the instructions your doctor says and stay positive. You will definitely get a good result.
Is IUI Painful Like HSG
HSG (Hysterosalpingography) is a diagnostic procedure where a contrast dye will be injected into your uterus and fallopian tubes to analyze the interior of your reproductive organs. This procedure is mostly used to check for blockages or damage in the fallopian tubes.
This procedure is quite painful and can cause discomfort. In comparison, most women have reported that IUI is less painful and only causes minor discomfort during the procedure. You can also recover more quickly after IUI than HSG.
Which Is More Painful, IUI Or IVF
IUI and IVF are both effective fertility treatments. IVF is usually preferred for couples who have major infertility issues, or IUI didn’t work for them.
Generally, IVF is considered to be more painful than IUI. IUI is a simple procedure. However, IVF is more complex and requires undergoing multiple procedures to get pregnant.
Aside from taking hormonal injections every day, you will also have to undergo two minimally invasive procedures: egg retrieval and embryo transfer. These procedures can be painful and can cause a bit of discomfort along with minor side effects.
Pain After IUI
After the insemination procedure, you might feel some Symptoms as pain and discomfort for some time. This is absolutely normal and will disappear in a few days. Below are some pains you might feel after IUI.
Abdominal Pain After IUI
After the insemination procedure, you might feel slight abdominal cramps. This might be caused by the hormonal injections or the insemination.
You might particularly feel a sharp pain on the left side of your stomach. This can happen during embryo implantation. This pain will subside after a few days.
Back Pain After IUI
You might also feel slight lower back pain after the procedure. Particularly if you feel back pain 11 days after IUI, it might also be because of embryo implantation.
Breast Pain After IUI
Breast tenderness is normal during fertility treatments. It is usually caused due to the hormonal imbalance occurring in your body during the procedure.
However, you might also have breast pain after IUI. This might be due to the procedure or due to implantation.
Leg Pain After IUI
It is also normal for you to feel leg pain after 7 days of IUI. This might be due to implantation or hormonal changes in your body. This pain will decrease after a few days. So, there is no need to panic.
Conclusion
IUI is a good fertility treatment option if you have minor fertility issues and only need minimal assistance to get pregnant. Don’t be scared of the pain during the procedure and miss out on this opportunity to become pregnant.
If you still have doubts and concerns, you can contact your fertility hospital and clear them.
FAQs
No, IUI injections are not painful. However, you might feel a slight sting when you are administering the injections. You might also feel uneasy taking those injections daily. You can discuss with your doctor or therapist if you have an aversion to needles.
No, you won’t be given anesthesia during insemination. IUI is a simple procedure and is mostly not painless. You will only feel slight discomfort, and the procedure will be done within a few minutes. Inform your doctor immediately if you feel any discomfort.
IUI is mostly painless. However, you might feel slight pain and discomfort during the ovulation induction and insemination procedures.
