Having a child is a blessing for all couples. Low fertility rates might have an impact on pregnancy. But don’t worry, IUI treatment makes your wish come true.
Intrauterine Insemination is a treatment in which the sperm is injected directly into the uterus. Following IUI treatment, most women are confused about when to take a pregnancy test.
In this article you will know about when to take a pregnancy test after iui and how early you can take the pregnancy test.
When to take a pregnancy test after IUI?
If you have undergone IUI treatment a short time ago, a pressing question for every couple is when to take a pregnancy test after IUI.
Usually, for a normal pregnancy, a home test is better, but when it comes to IUI treatment, a blood test is needed as per the doctor’s recommendation.
In post-IUI treatment, it takes at least 14 days to gain a positive result. The blood test is crucial in IUI as it can detect lower levels of hCG, which gives accurate results of pregnancy when compared to the home test.
So here is an explanation of why you should wait until 14 days after the process of IUI.
First Phase (Day 1-2) – Ovulation and sperm injection
The first phase is the stimulation phase, in which the semen samples are collected, washed, and tested. Then, the washed sperm is carried out in a tube called a catheter, which is connected to the uterus directly.
As this phase is a starting point, medications used at the time of treatment will stimulate eggs.
Second Phase (Day 3-10) – Egg fertilization
The second phase is known as insemination, as it depends on timing and the process. The sperm swims up to the fallopian tubes and reaches the egg to get fertilized and it is known as fertilized implantation. This phase takes around 24 – 48 hours, as the sperm needs to reach the egg for fertility.
Third Phase (Day 10-14) – The rise in hCG Levels
The body starts releasing the hCG hormones (pregnancy hormones). The third phase involves monitoring, follow-up, and decision-making, followed by insemination. When hCG hormone levels rise, the body prepares and makes changes for the next level of pregnancy.
Fourth Phase (Day 15-28) – Fertilization Day / Testing Day
In this last phase, the embryo develops over the past two weeks. However, hCG level is present in urine and blood. If there is a higher hCG level, there is a chance of producing twins or triplets. After 14 days of IUI Treatment, it is the right time to test for pregnancy.
These are the basic information that IUI-treated women should get awareness about the four phases.
How early can you test positive after IUI?
It is better to wait at least 14 or 15 days after IUI treatment, which gives you accurate results. However, if you want to know the result right after the IUI treatment, the result will not be as accurate as expected. This is because the process needs time to meet up with a positive result.
Like normal pregnant women, IUI-treated women might face pregnancy symptoms such as:
i) Nausea or vomiting.
ii) Frequent headache.
iii) Mood swings.
iv) Mild bleeding or spotting.
v) Tiredness.
vi) Fatigue.
vii) Slight increase in basal body temperature.
viii) Muscle cramps.
With these symptoms aside, the medicines that are consumed to stimulate the egg may cause side effects and have a chance to reflect a false pregnancy symptom.
So it is better to wait at least 14 days to know the positive result after doing IUI treatment in the fertility hospital as it navigates your life better.
Conclusion
It is important to be mindful and have patience during the 14-day wait cycle. Make yourself relax and focus on having healthy foods in check. In these 14 days, you may experience some of the pregnancy symptoms.
But it is better to make the confirmation once you take the blood test. Don’t worry and put yourself down if there is any negative result. With lots of hope, you can undergo the IUI process up to 3 to 6 times, which navigates you to a positive result towards parenthood.
FAQs
Yes, it is very normal for the failure of the first IUI. This happens because either the sperm quality is lower or the eggs are not good for fertilization. However, by completing a maximum number of tries in IUI, you can get a positive result.
It is necessary to take 20 – 30 minutes of rest after the process of IUI. In addition, you can avoid doing household work, weight-lifting activities, and heavy workouts which create stress on your body. Stay hydrated and follow the doctor’s instructions.
Yes, periods get delayed after IUI treatment because various factors that you have undergone during IUI treatment such as hormonal medication, and emotional impact may slow down your menstrual cycle.
Usually, no symptoms take place after implantation. In some cases, women may experience a slight bleeding or cramp after a few days of fertilization which indicates the positive signals of successful implantation.
