Are you having trouble conceiving a baby with your spouse? If you have been trying for more than 12 months without using contraception, then it is generally judged that you are having fertility issues. This can be devastating news, but there is hope. You may be a candidate for an IUI pregnancy.

There are many couples who have fertility issues and find that they have difficulty conceiving the baby they so desire. However, the good news for such couples is that there are nowadays options available that can help increase fertility levels and heighten the chance of being able carry a fetus to full term.

The IUI method stands for intra-uterine insemination and it is one of the oldest forms of fertility treatments for couples. The way that it works is that the male's sperm is collected and then inserted into the woman's uterus using a speculum to open the cervix and a catheter tube to transport the sperm.

The idea of the technique is that by inserting the sperm directly into the uterus, there is more sperm that are available to fertilize the waiting egg. You might be a candidate for IUI if the male spouse in the relationship has a low sperm count that is otherwise normal in terms of shape and movement. Women can have the treatment done if they have limited cervical mucus or if the mucus is rejecting of the sperm, which can sometimes happen.

The male spouse is normally assessed by a urologist and they will have an interview and a sample of their sperm taken. The sample is examined to check the sperm count, the shape of the sperm and the movement of the sperm. If the sperm count is low, but the shape and movement are normal, then the male spouse could make a good candidate for IUI success.

Women who are not suitable candidates for an IUI pregnancy might be those women who have fallopian tubes that are damaged in some way. They may also have eggs that are not of a good quality or if they are over 40 years of age, if this is the case then doctors are unlikely to try the technique since the chances of it being successful are so low. Another disadvantage that should be considered is that these types of pregnancies tend to run a higher risk of miscarriage.

If the conditions in the male or the female are deemed to be right, then an IUI pregnancy is not such a complex affair. Besides some minimal risks of infection, cramping or multiple pregnancies the process is very safe. And with the further development of these techniques, IUI continues to become an even greater option for the couple beset by infertility. Using IUI you and your spouse may be able to conceive and give birth to your own child. Nothing can be as devastating as infertility but with IUI, you and many other couples now have a great chance to start their dreams of having a family together.