Congratulations on completing the IUI procedure!
Now is the time to patiently wait for your embryo to implant and take a pregnancy test afterward to confirm.
But like most couples, you may also be tempted to know the results of your IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) treatment sooner. This is when certain symptoms can help you identify whether you are pregnant or not.
Ways to Confirm Pregnancy After IUI
Since IUI is similar to natural pregnancy you will experience the following symptoms if your treatment is a success:
- Mild crampingÂ
- Implantation spotting
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Breast tenderness
- Missed period
- Increase in basal body temperature
- Heightened senses
- Mood swings, etc.
IUI Success Symptoms
Symptoms such as mild cramping, nausea, and vomiting may also arise due to the effect of IUI hormone medications and procedures. So they cannot be taken as sure indicators of pregnancy.
On the other hand symptoms such as mild spotting, missed periods, increase in body temperature, and so on are concrete evidence or indicators of pregnancy.
Mild or light spotting that occurs a few days after the IUI procedure is also called implantation bleeding. It indicates that the embryo has successfully embedded into the uterine lining.
Once the embryo gets attached to the uterine lining the balance of the hormone levels may change and hormones that aid in pregnancy will begin to secrete. The hormone that secretes exclusively during pregnancy is the human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) hormone. The secretion of the hCG hormones increases the basal body temperature.
Another important symptom that indicates pregnancy is a missed period. The IUI procedure is usually done around the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle in a woman. So after 10 to 14 days of the IUI procedure, if you miss your period, it indicates that the embryo has implanted on the uterine lining and has resulted in pregnancy.
Some other IUI success symptoms include breast tenderness, fatigue, heightened senses, food aversions, and so on. These symptoms arise due to the changes in hormone levels during pregnancy.
Confirming IUI Success Through Pregnancy Test
Despite various symptoms that may suggest pregnancy, the only way to confirm a positive result is by taking a proper pregnancy test.
Deciding when to take a pregnancy test can be challenging for many couples. It is crucial to test at the right time to avoid inaccurate results. It is recommended to wait for at least 14 days, or two weeks, after the IUI procedure before taking a pregnancy test. In some cases, it might take up to 20 days post-IUI to obtain an accurate result.
Be patient and avoid testing too early, as testing before this period may result in a false negative. For instance, symptoms might appear 7 days after the procedure, but this is generally too soon for a reliable test result.
Additionally, it is advisable to visit a fertility clinic for your pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are less reliable compared to the urine or blood tests conducted in a clinic. These tests, known as hCG blood or urine tests, measure the levels of the hCG hormone, which is only present during pregnancy, to confirm your results.
False Positive Pregnancy Result After IUI
If you take a trigger shot or hCG shot during the IUI treatment and test your pregnancy status earlier than the two-week wait, you may receive a false positive pregnancy test.
The level of hCG in your urine or blood may not have diminished after the trigger shot. So, if you take a pregnancy test immediately after the insemination procedure the hCG present in your body after the trigger shot may lead to a false positive test.
Conclusion
Confirming pregnancy after your IUI treatment may be exciting while also making you anxious.
It is advisable to wait patiently for two weeks before taking the pregnancy test to prevent false positive or negative test results.
Also, prefer to test using proper pregnancy tests like the hCG blood or urine tests in the clinic or hospital rather than at home. This can save you from false pregnancy results.
Symptoms such as the increase in body temperature, missed periods, implantation spotting, etc. are great ways to confirm pregnancy. Yet, do not rely on these symptoms trusting them to be accurate indicators of pregnancy as they can result from IUI hormonal medications as well.
In doubt, consult your fertility clinic or doctor immediately.
To know more about the ways to confirm pregnancy after IUI, consult a fertility specialist.
FAQs
IUI is not painful. The insemination procedure includes the insertion of a small catheter into the uterus to introduce the sperm. It does not include any incisions.
It is okay not to receive a positive pregnancy result after IUI. Not all couples conceive in their first cycle of IUI. You can take IUI treatment for up to six cycles before moving on to other intensive fertility treatments to achieve pregnancy. Consult with a fertility specialist regarding it.
Yes, with each cycle of IUI, your fertility will be enhanced. This is why repeating fertility treatments is never considered a waste. With an increasing fertility rate, your chance of getting pregnant also increases.
