Unfortunately, IUI cycles tend to have a lower rate of success than we want, usually in the range of 10-20% per cycle, though it’s standard-of-care to suggest 3-6 IUIs before moving on. IVF with Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) should provide a success rate that is at least 3-4x better. Recent improvements in lab techniques have… Read more »
The emotional side of male subfertility/infertility
As a reproductive endocrinologist, I often see subfertility affecting men too. It’s often in ways that they may not be able to voice to anyone, even their partners. Perhaps even to themselves. In the context of fertility, erectile concerns can often be interpreted as ambivalence about having children. Some men may refuse to have intercourse,… Read more »
Are there any activities I should do the day of my IUI?
The short answer is – there aren’t. Many corners of the internet encourage people to continue lying on their back, perhaps with a pillow under their bum after intercourse. The speculation is that this allows more sperm access to the womb and increases the chances of pregnancy. Does it work? I don’t know. But, if… Read more »
What does Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction Act say about buying donor sperm and eggs?
In 2004, the Canadian government passed The Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA). The legislation also established Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC), a Federal agency, which was to be responsible for licensing, inspecting, and enforcing activities controlled under the Act. The legislation itself addresses several areas of human genetic and reproductive technologies. The Act prohibits many… Read more »
What impact does aging have on male fertility?
Getting older has its advantages. But many men over 45 worry about the impact their age will have on the quality of their sperm, and the health of children they may be responsible for. Sometimes, these are valid concerns. But there are things you can do about it. 1. Get a sperm test with DNA… Read more »
How long can embryos remain frozen?
There’s some microdegradation of DNA after only a few days. Microdegradation means DNA, or the proteins that support its structure, start to break down during the freezing process. How significant this is depends on the circumstances. When sperm are frozen, there are generally millions to spare. You can be confident that there will… Read more »
I’m having IUI, how do I interpret the sperm numbers?
You’ve talked to your fertility provider and decided intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the right choice for you. Great! By this point, we generally have a sperm count. This can be divided into two parts: The initial sample and the washed sample. Initial Sample We like to see sperm in the “normal” range. This is because… Read more »
When is IUI the right choice?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a simple “bridge” procedure between natural attempts to conceive at home, and the more technical process of IVF. Intrauterine insemination is kind of like having sexual intercourse timed to when you ovulate. The difference is that it helps bypass any obstacles sperm may encounter at the cervix. Some examples of when… Read more »
Calgary’s controversy about mixed-race donor selection
I’m sure you’ve read in the news this week about a Calgary fertility clinic that refused a patient the ability to select donor sperm from a different ethnic background than hers. Dr. Calvin Greene, the Regional Fertility Program clinic’s administrative director, was quoted by the Calgary Herald last week, “I’m not sure that we should… Read more »
“Why did my semen analysis numbers suddenly drop this month?”
Sperm counts actually do change dramatically from month to month, and most of the time we don’t know why. You can ask your reproductive endocrinologist if there are significant white blood cells—this can be associated with a subclinical prostate infection, easily treated with antibiotics and can account for sudden drops. More commonly, however, we assess… Read more »