IUI Treatment in Ahmedabad | Wellspring IVF

Your IUI cycle begins on Day 1 to Day 2 of your menstrual period. A baseline transvaginal ultrasound is performed to assess uterine lining thickness, resting antral follicles in both ovaries, and to confirm no residual cysts from the previous cycle. Baseline blood tests (Day-2 FSH, LH, oestradiol) are taken if not already available. The IUI cycle plan is confirmed at this visit.

In most IUI cycles, mild stimulation medications encourage the growth of 1–3 dominant follicles. Options include oral Clomiphene Citrate or Letrozole (tablet form), or low-dose injectable Gonadotrophins (FSH/LH). The goal is controlled development of 1–2 dominant follicles — not the high-stimulation approach used in IVF. Natural (unstimulated) IUI is also performed in selected cases where ovulation is confirmed to be regular.

This is where Dr. Pranay Shah’s expertise makes the critical difference. Follicle growth is tracked via 2–3 transvaginal ultrasound scans during the stimulation phase. When the lead follicle reaches 18–22 mm in diameter — the mature, ovulation-ready size — the trigger injection is given. Precise follicle monitoring is what separates a well-timed IUI from a poorly timed one. Endometrial thickness and trilaminar pattern are also assessed at this stage (target: ≥ 8mm).

When follicle maturity is confirmed, a single HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) trigger injection is administered. This injection precisely triggers the final maturation of the egg and initiates the ovulation process approximately 36–40 hours later. The IUI procedure is then scheduled 36–38 hours after the trigger — timed to coincide exactly with the natural ovulation window. This is the most time-critical step in the entire IUI cycle.

On the morning of the IUI procedure, the male partner provides a semen sample (or a frozen donor/partner sample is thawed). This sample undergoes the sperm washing process — explained below. The wash typically takes 60–90 minutes. The result: a small volume (0.3–0.5 mL) of highly concentrated, highly motile, sterile sperm in culture medium — ready for direct uterine placement.

You lie on the examination table as for a standard gynaecological check-up. A thin, flexible catheter is gently passed through the cervix — no dilation required in most cases. The washed sperm sample is slowly injected into the uterine cavity. The catheter is withdrawn. Mild cramping may be felt briefly. You rest for 10–15 minutes post-procedure and then return to your normal daily activities. No bed rest. No special restrictions. No anaesthesia.

Vaginal progesterone pessaries (Crinone / Utrogestan) are prescribed after IUI to support the uterine lining and create a receptive environment for implantation. These are continued for 14 days. The two-week wait can be emotionally challenging — Dr. Shah’s team is available by WhatsApp for any questions. A blood Beta-hCG test is performed 14 days after IUI, not a urine test which can be unreliable at this early stage.

A positive result is confirmed by a rising hCG level (repeated 48 hours later) and then a confirmatory ultrasound at 6–7 weeks to see the fetal heartbeat. A negative result triggers a dedicated consultation with Dr. Shah — to review the cycle data, discuss what can be optimised, and plan the next step: another IUI cycle with protocol adjustment, or transition to IVF. A failed IUI cycle is never simply ‘try again’ — it is a data point that informs the next decision.