When to call it quits with IUI?

Intrauterine Insemination or IUI in short is often the first line of treatment for infertility. The main advantages when compared to IVF, are that it is cheaper, doesn't involve daily injections and lesser stress levels. It is possible to get this treatment at your routine gynaecologist whereas IVF may only be done at an infertility specialist's clinic. Changing the treating doctor is usually disconcerting to most couples as it involves risks and having to build up rapport with a hitherto unknown person and talking about something so sensitive as fertility.

In my opinion, at least in India, too many people are reluctant to call it quits with IUI. As per studies done, the pregnancy chances with IUI plateau within 3-6 cycles. As such the recommendation is to restrict the number of cycles to 6 in couples with unexplained infertility. IUI works best in unexplained infertility, couples with psycho-sexual problems and when the cause of infertility is PCOS. Couples where there are other contributing factors to infertility especially if the woman is older than 35 years, should be reviewed after three cycles of IUI. Further IUI cycles should ideally be under the supervision of infertility specialist and that too after a thorough counselling.