An article on intrauterine insemination cost in Nigeria, IUI treatment cost in Nigeria, iui centres in Lagos, IUI procedures and risks.
IUI simply means intrauterine insemination and it is a key component of assisted reproductive technology (ART) known commonly as invitro fertilization (IVF). Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an infertility treatment option that is often called artificial insemination.
In this procedure, washed, primed, viable and large volume of sperm probably from a donor will manually but skilfully be introduced into your womb (saving the sperm the stress of overcoming the “tough” cervix and cervical mucus) so as to make it easy for it to reach the Fallopian tube and fertilize your egg(s). It increases your chances of getting pregnant. Most times the introduced spermatozoa are washed, primed and selected. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.
WHY IUI?
The aim of intrauterine insemination is to increase the quantity of viable sperm that will reach the Fallopian tubes so as to increase their chances of meeting the female egg, fertilization and pregnancy.
How does IUI work? PROCEDURES
Before intrauterine insemination, ovulation-stimulating medications may be used for the woman to prime her up for release of eggs, in which case careful monitoring will be necessary to determine when the eggs are mature.
The IUI procedure will then be performed around the time of ovulation, typically about 24-36 hours after the surge in LH hormone that indicates ovulation will occur soon. This means that serial blood tests to determine the level of these hormones will carried out same as well as follicular tracking with ultrasound.
A semen sample(maybe from donor) will be washed by the lab to separate the semen from the seminal fluid. A catheter will then be used to insert the sperm directly into the uterus. This process maximizes the number of sperm cells that are placed in the uterus, thus increasing the possibility of conception (pregancy).
The IUI procedure takes only a few minutes and involves minimal discomfort. The next step is to observe for signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
TREATMENT – WHAT TYPE OF INFERTILITY DOES IUI TREAT
Your doctor may decide to adopt the IUI treatment of infertility for:
➡️Mild male factor infertility (from ejaculation dysfunction)
➡️Infertility due to low sperm count and poor sperm motility.
➡️Women who have problems with their cervical mucus (hostile cervix)
➡️Couples with unexplained infertility.
IUI is not recommended for women with:
➡️pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
➡️Endometriosis
➡️Severe disease of the fallopian tube for example blocked tubes.
As it will most likely fail.
Risks
Almost non-existent apart from the risk of infection. However, there is also the risk of multiple gestation (if you want to call it a risk as some couples want this) such as twins, triplets and quadraplets since the woman is on ovulation stimulation drugs like clomid or metformin during this period.
Success Rate of IUI
In Nigeria, the success rate of IUI is around 25 percent per cycle. A cycle can fail but couples that are persistent with several cycles monthly may like achieve pregnancy in no time. The more the cycles the higher the chances of pregnancy.
IUI centres in Lagos Nigeria
1. FertiGold Fertility Clinic
2. Fusion Nest Fertility Centre
3. Green-Onyx Fertility Clinic
4. Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), first of ivf centres in lagos
5. Nordica Fertility Centre
6. Omni Advanced Fertility Centre
7. George’s Memorial Medical Centre
8. Eko Hospital Fertility Centre
9. Roding Medical Centre
10. St Ives Specialist Hospital: IVF and fertility Unit
11. St Augustine Medical Centre, Benin City
All the fertility clinics listed on these links: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Benin city do IUI.
COST OF IUI IN NIGERIA
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is expensive but affordable when compared to IVF. Some couples are lucky enough to conceive with just one cycle while others will have to do repeated cycles to get pregnant.
In Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, the average cost of IUI is about N350,000 – N500,000 naira including the cost of fertility drugs and tests. Most fertility clinics, for example, Nordica Medical Centre, charge about #340,000 naira for a cycle and reduces the price to #287,000 for the same couples incase the first cycle fails.
Cheap IUI in Nigeria are available in certain period of the year when the fertility centres are doing promos and price slashing for couples looking for the fruits of the womb. During this period discounted fertility treatment are offered and the price of a cycle of IUI may be as low as #120,000 naira.
PS: While IUI is a less invasive, less risky and a less expensive option, pregnancy rates from IUI are lower than those from IVF. Ensure you discuss all the options of treating infertility with your doctor. There is no hospital that is best in Nigeria for IUI. However, some have higher success rates than others.
Sources:
2. American Pregnancy Association
