If you are getting ready to undergo an Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), then you must be aware that there are many things you should do, and a few things to avoid doing after IUI procedure. IUI, or intrauterine insemination, is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) commonly used by couples who are struggling to conceive. This procedure is quite simple and is a non-surgical procedure that involves the insertion of male semen into the uterus to increase the chances of conception.
However, there are certain dos and don’ts after IUI, that should be followed to make sure you have the best chance of getting pregnant. Here are the most effective tips regarding what to do after an IUI, what are IUI success symptoms, what activities should be avoided after IUI, etc.
In This Article
What should you do after IUI Procedure?
Whatever your reasons for considering IUI, the procedure itself is simple and is used to treat infertility. That being said, you will want to do a few things as soon as it is done to ensure success. As far as procedure is concerned, the IUI process takes about 15 to 20 mins. The process does not require the intake of any kind of painkillers or other medications.
1. Be Comfortable to Follow Daily Routine
Once the insemination process is finished, the doctor will suggest you keep lying on your back for some time. After this, you can go back home and continue following your daily work routine. Specifically, bed rest is not necessary after the IUI procedure, you can continue to do some light exercise after IUI by consulting your doctor.
2. Relax and Keep Calm
In some cases, after the insemination process, women experience some light spotting for one or two days, and it is normal. However, the fact is that once the process is completed, you will not face any difficulties or feel the sickness to drive back to your home. But if you want some time to relax after reaching home, then it is absolutely fine and good for your peace of mind.
3. Follow Proper Diet
Your diet and nutrition play a vital role in achieving pregnancy, so knowing food to eat after IUI procedure and what to avoid in the days leading up to your procedure can help you conceive faster. The doctor will provide a diet plan for you, and it is most important to follow the diet plan strictly. Additionally, it will be best to focus on eating nutritious and healthy foods.
4. Follow Doctor’s Prescriptions
If the doctor has provided you a prescription, do not forget to take those medicines on time. To ensure the high success rate of your fertility treatment, it is mandatory to follow the guidelines without any deviation that are provided by your doctor. At the same time, make sure you do not take any medicine without consulting your doctor to avoid any unfavorable results.
5. Stay Active
Going for the IUI process does not mean you cannot continue doing some workout to stay fit. To keep yourself active, you can do some light exercises or yoga that boosts fertility, however, do not get involved in rigorous or strenuous workouts. Moreover, if you are not sure which exercise is safe to do after IUI and what activities to avoid after IUI, then it is always best to have a word with your doctor regarding it.
6. Get Sound Sleep
For some women, the stress and anxiety that they feel while undergoing IUI treatment can affect their sleep patterns. However, this should not happen. You should get enough amount of sleep to ensure that your body is in a healthy state. Consequently, it is always important to get enough sleep after the IUI procedure. Otherwise, it can affect your health and even hamper your fertility treatment.
7. Think Positive About Results
Thinking positively and having a positive outlook is the first step to achieving success. You must maintain a positive outlook through your IUI procedure. Do not stress too much thinking about negative possibilities, rather keep your stress level to a minimum. After having undergone an IUI procedure, it is highly crucial to preserve a positive attitude. It will help you get the best out of your treatment.
What should you not do after IUI Procedure?
The IUI procedure is safe provided that you do not have any health issues. Nevertheless, to avoid complications, you should avoid certain activities and habits after your IUI procedure. Here is a quick list of what things to avoid after IUI:
1. Smoking
Smoking after an Intrauterine Insemination procedure can affect your fertility. If you are planning to undergo IUI, you should quit smoking before and after the procedure. Many women are not aware of the fact that smoking, or even exposure to second-hand smoke, can influence their chances of getting pregnant. Even during pregnancy, you should avoid smoking to prevent any deformities in the baby.
2. Taking Stress
To achieve positive results after the IUI process, you must take care of your physical and mental health. Though it is quite normal to face some stress about the procedure and its outcome, it is not good for your health. Stress can even lead to an imbalance of some hormones and influence the chances of conceiving. Hence, avoid taking unnecessary stress for your well-being.
3. Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol can interfere with hormone levels in the body. Increased alcohol consumption has been linked to reduced success rates for IUI and IVF treatment, as well as lower pregnancy chances. In fact, it can cause a lot of harm to your body. Therefore, alcohol, whether you are drinking it or using it topically, is not an advisable thing to do during IUI.
4. Unhealthy Food
While talking about dos and don’ts after IUI, you cannot forget to pay attention to what you should eat and what not to. There are certain types of food that you should avoid eating after your IUI treatment. These types of food majorly include soda, raw animal products, unpasteurized cheese, etc. The best way to ensure that you are eating healthy is to eat homemade food and energy drinks during pregnancy.
5. Caffeine Consumption
According to research, women who drink less amount of coffee have higher chances of convincing a baby as compared to women who drink coffee in moderate to a high amount. You may have heard from the doctor as well that it is not good to consume caffeine after fertility treatment. Thus, it will be excellent to minimize the caffeine intake after the IUI procedure to get positive results.
6. Toxic Radiation Exposure
During IUI, you have to be careful about minor things as well. One such thing is to limit your exposure to any toxic or harmful radiation. It is recommended that after intrauterine insemination therapy, you should avoid exposing yourself to intense sunlight for long periods for your protection. Furthermore, refrain from engaging in any work that involves harmful radiation.
7. Taking Unprescribed Medicines
Before taking any medication, you must speak with your doctor. The doctor will tell you which medicines to take, which ones should be avoided, and how to use them. It is done to avoid taking any medicines that can intervene in the fertility treatment process.
What to do after IUI to increase chances?
Intrauterine Insemination is the most widely used assisted reproductive technology in the world today to treat the problem of infertility, but it is not guaranteed to work for everyone. If you are trying to conceive and want to know about how to experience IUI success symptoms, here are some steps that you can take to increase your chances of success:
1. Know About the Process
The first step by which you can help yourself to get one step close to becoming a parent is to be informed about your treatment. Gain more information about the process, steps involved in the treatment, things that can affect your pregnancy, how many visits will be there, and how long it will take to get the results.
2. Choose Best Fertility Center
The success rate of any fertility treatment is majorly dependent on the facilities and the advancement in the technology used for treatment. It is suggested to associate with the best fertility experts who have years of experience and are knowledgeable enough to handle your case. Make sure that your doctor is capable of providing you world-class treatment and facilities.
3. Have a Nutritious Diet
The way you eat has a large impact on your fertility. Diet plays a significant role in determining the rate of success in IUI. A diet that consists of the right balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals will not only help improve your overall health but also your chances of getting pregnant. An unhealthy and unbalanced diet may not help in getting good results from the treatment.
4. Stay Happy
Many couples are unaware that IUI success is dependent on more than just knowing dos and don’ts after IUI or some fertility drugs. Making sure you are happy, healthy, and relaxed is essential for success. The calmer and stress-free you will be during the process, the greater are the chances of ensuring a healthy pregnancy through it.
5. Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to improve the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, and can also benefit individuals undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures. Not only it enhances the chances of conceiving, but it also helps to reduce the stress and overthinking related to the process. It is an excellent remedy to relax and restore your body.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Nevertheless, taking care of your health and fitness is the key to have a successful IUI treatment. Take care of few things to prevencomplications, such as avoid lifting or moving heavy objects, do not travel for a longer duration, avoid swimming just after the IUI, do not eating junk food or unhealthy snacks, etc.
7. Talk to Your Doctor
Be it fertility or any other treatment it is human nature to assume things about the results in both positive and negative ways. After the IUI process, many thoughts will come across your mind, and you will be confused about many things like What to eat after IUI for success, what is safe to do, etc. To deal with these doubts, the best way is to seek advice from your doctor and stop assuming yourself.
What should I eat for success after IUI?
When you are experiencing infertility treatment, your diet can make a huge difference in your results. These days, there are a variety of diets that you can choose from if you are trying to increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you are not sure which food is healthy to eat, here is a list of helpful suggestions on What to eat after IUI for success:
1. Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are the ones that contain Vitamin C in a large proportion. Eating oranges, grapes and lemon can really help you in providing essential nutrients to your body and maintaining good health. Thus they can be helpful in increasing the rate of success through fertility treatment.
2. Walnuts
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are found in walnuts. This is one of the factors that prompted researchers to question whether they could help with fertility. You can add walnuts to your diet during the afternoon or by pairing them with oatmeals to have a crunchy taste.
3. Whole Grains
Whole grains have also been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes, among many other health benefits. By consulting your doctor you can decide the right amount of whole grains that you should consume after IUI to get positive outcomes.
4. Fish
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids could increase your chances of achieving a successful pregnancy after IUI. According to a study it was found that women who consumed more fish before their fertility treatment had a better chance of achieving a live birth when compared to women who ate little or no fish.
5. High Fat Dairy Foods
High-fat dairy foods may also help increase pregnancy rates in women who undergo intrauterine insemination, or IUI. Eating milk products like cheese, yogurt, and other high-fat dairy foods is a must to be added to your diet for a healthy pregnancy. These are all beneficial in conceiving.
6. Fresh Green Vegetables
Green vegetables are loaded with vital nutrients like vitamin K, folic acid, iron, magnesium, and calcium. Consuming fresh green vegetables is linked to a reduced chance of any sort of infertility problems. And, hence, green leafy vegetables are the most suitable food for IUI.
7. Lentils
Legumes such as lentils, beans, and peas are a great source of protein, fiber, and iron. Iron makes up part of the protein hemoglobin and carries oxygen to the cells in our body. So, if you are doing IUI (intrauterine insemination) to get pregnant, you should introduce lentils in your diet.
Conclusion:
Many women who are trying to conceive turn to an intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure as a means of increasing fertility. Such women must know about what is safe for them, what things to avoid doing after IUI, and what can affect their chances of getting pregnant. Particularly, for obtaining better outcomes from the treatment activities like smoking, drinking, eating unhealthy food should be avoided. Whereas adopting a healthy lifestyle, staying stress-free, and maintaining a healthy diet is very much beneficial for them. Moreover, taking precautions and following the doctor’s guidelines is the ideal way to ensure successful treatment.
