An excellent fertility procedure, IUI (intrauterine insemination) has assisted many women in achieving their dream of motherhood. But after the procedure is over, waiting for weeks for a positive result can be nerve-wracking. So, during this phase, knowing the IUI success symptoms day by day is essential to stay calm.
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Intrauterine insemination: an overview
Intrauterine insemination is one of the best procedures that can treat infertility. During IUI, the doctor will place sperm directly in your uterus and thus increase your chances of getting pregnant. As it artificially inserts sperm into the woman’s uterus, the other name for it is artificial insemination.
For the best results, you must wait for the ovary to release eggs and then insert the sperm. The desired outcome is that the egg and the sperm will get united in the fallopian tube, the connecting link between the ovaries and the uterus. As this approach can bypass the cervix, it gives sperm cells a superb start on their venture to the egg.
So, doctors recommend planning the IUI during your menstrual cycle. When your monthly cycle is going on, either your right or left ovary will be releasing an egg. So, the chances of the sperm meeting the egg in the fallopian tube are higher. Fertility medicines are also there that assist the ovaries in producing eggs.
But what happens after IUI day by day? Will there be any adverse side effects or will you feel the same? How do you know the sperm has been capable of impregnating you? Let’s find answers to some of these most commonly asked questions.
Intrauterine insemination: the procedure
Healthcare providers perform IUI in three simple steps:
- Ovulation monitoring: It involves using blood tests and ultrasound to monitor the development of eggs taking place in your ovary.
- Sperm preparation: The donor or partner’s sperm is washed for separating immotile sperm from motile sperm as well as other components.
- Insemination: The process of using a thin catheter to carefully place the sperm into the uterus is called insemination.
Once the procedure is complete, what are the IUI success symptoms day by day? Stay tuned to know all about it.
IUI success symptoms day by day
When the IUT is successful, finding out that you are pregnant will be the most beautiful feeling. But you won’t get the good news overnight and you have to be patient. Many women admit that they become restless after the treatment and don’t know how long they need to wait. So, we have listed the IUI success symptoms day by day to help you keep anxiety at bay.
Implantation bleeding
2-3 days after IUI takes place, some women have reported spotting or light bleeding. This is completely normal and you need not freak out when you see a little blood. Doctors term it ‘implantation bleeding’, but what does it mean? It indicates that the fertilized egg has attached itself to the lining of the uterus.
How is implantation bleeding different from menstrual bleeding? Unlike menstrual bleeding, it will not continue for a long duration. The bleeding will not be heavy but lighter.
Tender breasts
Within 48 hours of the IUI procedure, a lot of women notice that their breasts appear tender. It is among the first signs that you have conceived. All women experience this type of tenderness on their breasts from the beginning of their pregnancy.
Tendre breasts arise from the diverse hormonal changes taking place in the female body. These changes are crucial as they prepare your body to provide nourishment to the baby. Sensitive, sore, or swollen breasts could also be remarkable indicators that you are about to get lucky.
Nausea
Some women feel nauseous after UTI and it is yet another hint that the treatment has been a success. Nausea is common during the first trimester but the symptoms get better after around 18 weeks.
Contrary to conventional beliefs, you may vomit at any time of the day. The human chorionic gonadotropin hormone is mainly responsible for causing morning sickness.
Fatigue
Have you suddenly begun to feel extreme exhaustion a week after going ahead with IUI? Then you should not dismiss it as regular tiredness. The unusual fatigue that you feel despite eating and sleeping well is normal during pregnancy.
Pregnancy hormones like progesterone make a woman feel sleepy and tired. So, if you require more rest even without any physical labor, maybe you are about to be blessed with a baby.
Frequent urination
Do you feel an urge to run to the washroom and pee more often than usual 8 days after the IUI? Due to the increased levels of hCG and progesterone, urinary frequency may also occur during pregnancy. These two hormones increase the flow of blood to your kidneys. That explains why the bladder fills up quicker than before.
Strong sense of smell
A sudden heightened sense of smell can be linked with early pregnancy. You will be amazed that you are capable of detecting odors that you never noticed before. So, take it as a positive sign that your journey of parenthood has commenced.
A missed period
When you miss a period, that’s the biggest sign that you are pregnant. So, it is undoubtedly the most definitive sign that the IUI has worked. However, your period may not arrive on time for various other reasons. So, to be 100% sure, you should take a pregnancy test before you begin celebrating.
What are the symptoms 15 days after IUI?
If you have undergone IUI two weeks ago, what should you expect now? By now the sperm must have reached the egg. So, it is natural to experience some signs of early pregnancy. Have a look at these 15 days after IUI symptoms to stay informed beforehand:
No sign of your period
Is it day 15 after the IUI and your period still hasn’t shown up? Then keep your fingers crossed as the sperm might have impregnated the mature egg released by your ovary. However, if you have been taking hormonal medications, they can also be accountable for the missed period. So, don’t delay the pregnancy test to clear your doubts.
Changes in the basal body temp.
A slight increase in the basal body temperature after you ovulate is normal. But if you are pregnant, then the increased temperature may persist. This is among the regular IUI success symptoms noticed by women after 2 weeks.
Mood swings
Mood swings during pregnancy are not uncommon and so, this is another thing that you can experience. This happens because significant alterations in the hormone levels end up affecting the level of neurotransmitters your brain produces. As neurotransmitter is the brain chemical regulating your mood, you may feel depressed or anxious for no reason. Fatigue, estrogen and progesterone, and changes in metabolism can also affect your mood.
Food cravings
Other than smell sensitivity, pregnant women also have weird food cravings. You will suddenly feel tempted to savor something you have never liked before. Craving certain foods desperately is one of the sweetest side effects of being pregnant.
Earliest positive pregnancy test after IUI 5
When an IUI is done, the earliest a person can get a positive result is 10 days after the treatment. Yes, believe it or not, some women have tested positive even after taking the pregnancy only 10-12 days after IUI.
However, this does not mean you should lose hope if you test negative when conducting the test after 10 days. Perhaps your HCG levels are not that high and thus, the test kit can’t detect that you’re pregnant.
So, for the most reliable outcome, refrain from taking the test for 2 weeks. This will give the fertilized egg sufficient time to get implanted in the uterus. So, the HCG levels will naturally rise and you will get an accurate result. Moreover, false results will increase your stress levels and disrupt your sleep.
Tips to enhance the IUI success symptoms
Take rest
According to women’s health experts, you should give your body a few hours to recover after the procedure. So, taking the day off from work and relaxing at home is a great idea.
Be hopeful
Many don’t know how significantly their mental health can impact their ability to get pregnant. When you are stressed, your body tends to become infertile. So, you should always have a positive mindset and have faith in medical science. Even if you don’t succeed this time, don’t give up.
Say no to intercourse
Once the sperm has entered your system, you don’t want to mess with it in any manner. Having sexual intercourse may decrease your chances of getting pregnant. So, for the first two days after the IUI, control the urge to fulfill your carnal needs. After 48 hours are over, physical intimacy with your partner won’t be an issue.
Don’t perform strenuous activities
Your doctor will advise you to refrain from doing heavy workouts for a few days. You should also avoid participating in tasks that expect you to apply too much physical strength. Be it weight-lifting or any high-impact sports – stay away from such things.
Track symptoms
It is essential to be mindful of all the symptoms you experience and take note of them. Your doctor would like to know about the changes happening in your body. Based on that, he will curate a fertility treatment plan that works best for you.
Listen to your doctor
Note that for any treatment to do its magic, patience is the key. So, you have to abide by the instructions given by your doctor. Stick to the lifestyle medications prescribed by your doctor and give your body at least 2 weeks. After that, it is the right time to buy a pregnancy testing kit.
How do you know you are the right candidate for IUI?
When you are unable to conceive, knowing the reason behind it is crucial to start treatment. From a woman’s age to her body weight to hormonal imbalances – anything can be the reason behind infertility. So, the first thing that you have to do is book an appointment with a well-known fertility treatment center.
Only a series of tests and detailed check-ups will reveal why you are struggling to become a mom. After that, the doctor will tell you what kind of treatment you should opt for. That’s the best way to know if you should go for intrauterine insemination or explore other options. Doctors mostly suggest IUI for:
- Unexplained infertility
- Single women or lesbian couples relying on donor sperm
- Infertility due to cervical factor
Are you confused about the success rate of IUI? You will find plenty of symptoms after IUI success stories on the internet that prove how IUI has been a boon to thousands of women around the globe.
The Bottom Line
Now that you know what happens after an IUI, it will be easier for you to track your health. While the IUI success symptoms day by day hint at an effective IUI, taking a pregnancy test is crucial. The test will confirm that a baby is slowly developing in your womb. If you have some unusual symptoms, consult your doctor at the earliest.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I make sure my IUI is successful?
Since you have made up your mind to consider IUI, you also need to be careful after the procedure. So, don’t have sexual intercourse for two days, stay happy, and avoid working out at the gym for 72 hours.
2. Can you get a positive pregnancy test 10 days after IUI?
You can determine the right time for the pregnancy test based on when you have ovulated. If the procedure was done after natural ovulation, you need to wait 2 weeks before using a pregnancy test kit.
3. Is it normal to have no symptoms after IUI?
After implantation, a majority of women do not observe any symptoms for several days. So, do not panic if you do not have any IUI success symptoms as of now.
