Assisted Conception Services
Nuffield Health Woking Hospital
Centre no: 0144
PATIENT INFORMATION
I.U.I. NATURAL TREATMENT CYCLE
FOLIC ACID
You should take folic acid 400 micrograms daily from 3 months before the scheduled treatment cycle.
This is Department of Health advice for all women wishing to conceive and not just for assisted
conception treatment. This vitamin has been shown to reduce the chance of spina bifida and is available
from chemists. You should continue with it for as long as you are trying to conceive and for the first
three months of pregnancy. Also, it is good advice to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and
raw fruit.
SMOKING
Smoking can be dangerous during pregnancy and can also decrease your chance of conceiving. Therefore,
it is imperative that you do not smoke.
CONSENT
Both partners prior to commencing treatment must sign a consent to treatment by insemination form.
STARTING TREATMENT
You will need to contact the unit at the beginning of the cycle on which you wish to start treatment. We
will need to perform a baseline scan between days 2-4 of your cycle. The next scan will be arranged
according to the length of your cycle, usually around days 10-12. Please telephone early in the morning
of Monday morning when your period starts at the weekend as it is possible you may need to come that
day.
ULTRASOUND SCAN
The scans are normally performed with a vaginal probe and therefore a full bladder is not required.
These scans will need to be repeated every 2 - 3 days until the criteria for treatment has been met. An
average cycle will require 1 - 3 scans.
LH TESTING - (Ovulation Predictor Kits)
If one of these scans shows a follicle above a certain size (generally larger than 16mm)) you may be
asked to start testing for the surge in luteinising hormone. The staff will advise you of this. When the
onset of the LH surge has been detected a single intrauterine insemination will be planned for later that
day or the following day. It is very important to phone the Victoria Wing by 8.30 am, or the on-call
nurse, as soon as you detect a surge.
There is generally greater accuracy in timing the IUI if we trigger ovulation if a scan shows a follicle
above 16 - 18mm. The trigger injection may be given just under the skin to induce ovulation and IUI
timed from this injection.
Occasionally a follicle does not develop in which case the treatment will need to be abandoned. This is a
natural occurrence and usually the advice will be to proceed with treatment again on the following
cycle. either a nurse or a Consultant may carry out this procedure.
Assisted Conception Services
Pt information leaflet – IUI Natural
Authorised by: Mr A Riddle PR
Reviewed by: C Lewis May 2015
Version 8
First issued: Jan 2005
Page 1 of 3
Next review: May 2016
Electronic copy is controlled
Assisted Conception Services
Nuffield Health Woking Hospital
Centre no: 0144
INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION WITH PARTNER’S SPERM
When the correct date has been determined you will be given an appointment time for your treatment.
Your husband / partner will be asked to attend the unit 1 - 2 hours before the appointment time to
provide a semen sample. He will need to have abstained for 2 - 3 days beforehand.
Insemination will occur in the Victoria Wing, is usually a simple painless procedure lasting 5 to 10
minutes and does not require a general anaesthetic. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.
You will be asked to tell us your full name and date of birth. Two people check each stage of the sperm
preparation and you will be shown the details of your names and dates of birth on the ampoule, which
contains your partner’s sperm. Either a Nurse or a Consultant will carry out this procedure.
INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION WITH DONOR SPERM
When the correct date has been determined you will be given an appointment time for your treatment.
The IUI takes place in the Victoria Wing and is usually a painless procedure lasting 5 - 10 minutes and
does not require a general anaesthetic.
Your name and date of birth will be checked with you. We will also ask you to check the labels on the
ampoule containing the donor sperm and the details of the donor used with the choice that you have
previously signed for.
Please be reassured that all stages of sperm selection and preparation are
witnessed and confirmed by two people. Either a Nurse or a Consultant will carry out this procedure.
FOLLOW UP
We advise that every woman have a pregnancy test checked 16 to 18 days after IUI. During this time you
may experience increased discharge from the vagina and some low abdominal pain. If you notice vaginal
bleeding please contact the unit. Please ensure you inform the ACS unit of the outcome of your
treatment cycle whether it is negative or positive. You will also be required to give details of the
outcome of any pregnancy resulting from your treatment.
If the pregnancy test is positive you will be offered a scan to check the pregnancy. Unfortunately about
10% of pregnancies will miscarry with a small chance of an ectopic pregnancy.
If the test is negative, an internal review will be carried out by the nurses, embryologists and your
consultant to review what should happen with your next cycle. This will then be relayed back to you
by telephone or letter. On some occasions we may recommend a review for you with your consultant.
HELP LINE
The fertility unit is staffed Monday to Friday from 07.30 to 17.30 hr. outside these hours an answer phone
is used. Please leave your name, date and time of call. If there is an emergency a member of the team is
always on call and can be contacted via the unit mobile (077404 22717), or via the main hospital
switchboard (01483 227800).
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER 077404 22717
OUTCOME
For detailed outcome results see statistics sheet.
COUNSELLING
Our team at the Victoria Wing will give support, before, during and after treatment, providing
information and implications counselling, and guidance to explore relevant issues.
You will also have access to independent counsellors, if you wish, and this consultation is strictly
confidential.
Assisted Conception Services
Pt information leaflet – IUI Natural
Authorised by: Mr A Riddle PR
Reviewed by: C Lewis May 2015
Version 8
First issued: Jan 2005
Page 2 of 3
Next review: May 2016
Electronic copy is controlled
Assisted Conception Services
Nuffield Health Woking Hospital
Centre no: 0144
COMPLAINTS
If at anytime during your treatment you are not happy with the standard of care will you please tell the
nurse co-ordinator. If you feel you wish to complain will you please write to the named complaints
officer,
Ms Monnik Vleugels, Hospital Director,
Nuffield Health Woking Hospital,
Shores Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 4BY.
We are constantly striving to achieve excellence within the department; however we appreciate that you
may feel there are areas which do not come up to your expectations.
We would like to know about this.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TREATMENT BEGINS
Before commencing with the proposed treatment, please ensure you have been given the following
information.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8.
The limitation and possible outcomes of the proposed treatment
The possible side effects and risks of treatment
The technique involved
All alternative treatments
The costs involved and costs of alternative treatment
The availability of counselling facilities
The possible disruption to your normal life
Your general practitioner is not obliged to prescribe the medication you may require for your
treatment.
FEE STRUCTURE
IUI
IUI with donor sperm
£ - see fee schedule
£ - see fee schedule + HFEA fee
The IUI fee includes all scans, blood Oestradiol level, nursing services, sperm preparation, insemination,
and doctor's fees. It also includes one pregnancy test + a pregnancy viability scan if positive result.
It does not include:
*
Drugs
*
Any investigation required before treatment
WHEN TO PAY?
Payment must be made in full prior to the treatment cycle commencing.
Cheques should be made payable to the Nuffield Health, and all major credit cards are accepted.
We also offer you the facility for 'Banker's Automated Clearing Services' (BACS) which is a simple and
cost effective way to make payments directly from your bank account to another bank account. For
further information please discuss with our Accounts administrator.
The hospital will require details of a credit card before treatment starts, please discuss this with the
ACS financial administrator if this is difficult for you.
Assisted Conception Services
Pt information leaflet – IUI Natural
Authorised by: Mr A Riddle PR
Reviewed by: C Lewis May 2015
Version 8
First issued: Jan 2005
Page 3 of 3
Next review: May 2016
Electronic copy is controlled