Ovulation Induction Treatment and IUI Procedure

Ovulation Induction (OI) therapy has been successfully used as a fertility treatment option since 1958. Ovulation Induction is the process of stimulating ovulation via the use of specific medications at specific times within the menstrual cycle. These medications can be self-administered at home and act directly on ovarian hormone stimulation to ensure an egg is grown ready for fertilisation. When undergoing an OI cycle, your fertility specialist will request blood tests at intervals throughout the cycle to determine the correct time to:

begin and cease medication
have intercourse
do a pregnancy test to determine the success of the cycle.

Ovulation Induction Therapy

Ovulation Induction therapy using clomiphene citrate (Clomid) restores ovulation in 80% of women. Of those patients, 35-40% will achieve successful pregnancy within 3 months of starting treatment.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a treatment option that allows the controlled insemination of the female partner and can be used in conjunction with Ovulation Induction therapy. Otherwise, the IUI procedure can be completed on a natural menstrual cycle. IUI has been in use since the early 1960s. It is commonly used for women experiencing a wide variety of subfertility concerns or social infertility. IUI without concurrent Ovulation Induction has shown to be successful in 20% of cycles. When the procedure is used in conjunction with OI, the chance of successful pregnancy increases to 34% within the first 3 treatment cycles.

When undergoing the IUI procedure, your fertility specialist will request blood tests at intervals throughout the cycle to determine the correct time to:

begin and cease medication (if using any)
begin ovulation and insemination
do a pregnancy test to determine the success of the cycle

When the hormone levels in the blood are indicating ovulation will occur, or has just occurred, the fertility specialist will liaise with the fertility clinic to arrange a time for your partner to provide a sperm sample or the donor sample to be prepared.

When undergoing the IUI procedure, the sperm sample being used is prepared by the laboratory to ensure the maximum quality and quantity of sperm is used for the insemination. Insemination is conducted by a fertility nurse within the fertility clinic. This procedure is quick, approximately 5 minutes with a 10-minute rest period afterwards, and can feel similar to a pap smear.

Ovulation Induction and IUI in Canberra

If you’re considering ovulation induction treatment or the IUI procedure, book a consultation to discuss OI therapy at our Canberra clinic. Together with Dr Steven Adair, we’re here to support you.

You can contact us by completing the form below, emailing dr@stevenadair.com.au or calling (02) 6163 9677.

Get in touch

Whether it’s to book a consultation or discuss options, Dr Steven Adair and his team would love to hear from you.

For all appointments and enquiries, send us a message by filling out the enquiry form or call (02) 6163 9677.