An IUI may seem like just any other treatment. But only you, who have undergone the procedure, will understand its importance in your life: it is a chance for you to have your own baby.
As such, it is important for you to follow certain precautions before, during, and after the procedure to ensure there are no complications.
In this article, we will discuss certain things you should absolutely avoid after an intrauterine insemination. Take this article as a reference, and make sure you don’t do them after the procedure.
Things To Avoid After IUI
Though there are not many restrictions you should follow after an IUI procedure, there are some safety precautions that can potentially increase your chances of having a successful IUI pregnancy.
Let’s discuss some of them below.
Sleeping Position
There are no strict rules for your sleeping position after insemination. However, there is one position that is safer than the rest. Some doctors claim that sleeping on your right side is the correct sleeping position after IUI.
This is also the recommended sleeping position during pregnancy. Sleeping on your right side increases blood flow to your uterus, thus increasing the implantation rate and providing nourishment to the developing embryo.
Hard Exercise
Exercise and physical activity are mandatory. However, you should strictly avoid strenuous activities or high-intensity exercises, as these can put too much pressure on your body. Your body needs rest after an insemination procedure. So, take things easy.
Exercise You Can Prefer Instead
You don’t need to remain completely bedridden; you can do some minor activities to keep you active. For example, walking, light jogging, yoga, meditation, and light aerobics are some simple yet effective exercises you can do after your IUI.
Intercourse
Most doctors have mixed opinions on having sexual intercourse after IUI. However, it is best to avoid having sex for some weeks to be on the safer side.
Intercourse and orgasms can cause uterine contractions, which can affect embryo implantation. So, abstain from intercourse for a few weeks after IUI. You can discuss with your doctor and know when it will be okay to have sex with your partner without affecting your pregnancy.
Medications
During an IUI procedure, only take the medications your fertility doctor prescribes for you. Don’t go to a medical store on your own and get medicines if you experience any symptoms.
These medications can sometimes have adverse reactions on your pregnancy rates. So, if you experience any symptoms like cramps or fever, consult your fertility doctor or contact the hospital. They will prescribe you medications that won’t affect your pregnancy.
Anxiety And Stress
It is normal for you to feel stressed and anxious during your IUI treatments. However, did you know that they can affect your chances of having a successful pregnancy?
Yes, it is true. Stress and anxiety have been known to affect hormone levels and impact reproductive functions. So, try avoiding stress and staying calm and relaxed after the procedure.
Activities You Can Do To Reduce Stress
There are many activities you can do to reduce stress after IUI. In fact, any activity you like and have fun doing can help you stay calm and positive during this period.
It might be singing, listening to music, playing with your pet, staying with your loved ones, etc.
Radiation Heavy Circumstances
Exposure to radiation or other harmful chemicals can affect your embryo and implantation. So, after insemination, try to stay away from harmful radiation and chemicals like parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A, etc.
Unhealthy Diet
Your diet plays an important role in facilitating pregnancy. The nutrients you add to your diet are essential for providing your body with enough to nourish and grow the baby.
Your embryo also needs nutrients to develop healthily. If you don’t know what to eat after IUI, you can discuss it with your fertility doctor or dietician and draft a diet plan.
Caffeine And Alcohol Consumption
It is mandatory that you completely avoid alcohol consumption after an IUI. It can disrupt your hormone levels and affect healthy embryo development.
However, you do not necessarily need to avoid caffeine completely. You only need to minimize its intake. Excess caffeine consumption has been shown to decrease blood flow to the uterus and potentially impact implantation rates.
Extreme Hot Baths
Your body, especially the uterus, needs to be at an optimal temperature to ensure fertilization and successful embryo implantation. Extremely hot baths can alter your body temperature and make implantation difficult. The same is true for cold baths, too, so use lukewarm water while bathing.
Ignoring Symptoms
It is normal for you to experience certain symptoms after IUI. Your doctor would have warned you about it, too, after insemination. However, this does not mean that every symptom is normal.
For example, some women might experience white discharge after IUI. This is a normal symptom. However, if the discharge is too thick in consistency or appears yellow or green in color, it might indicate an infection.
So, know what is normal and abnormal after an IUI. This can let you know when you experience an abnormal symptom and help you seek medical attention.
Skipping Regular Checkups
Your doctor’s work does not end after an insemination. They will ask you to visit them for regular checkups and monitor your pregnancy routinely. Never skip those checkups.
Even if you have an emergency situation, ensure that you visit your doctor within the next few days. It can help you understand if you have any complications with your pregnancy.
Early Pregnancy Test
Avoid taking an early pregnancy test after IUI. It is normal for you to want to take a pregnancy test just one or two days after the procedrue and know the pregnancy results.
However, you will only get negative results during this period. This can affect your mental health and make you lose hope. You need to give time for fertilization and embryo implantation.
Taking a pregnancy test about two weeks after insemination can give you a fairly good result of your IUI success.
Conclusion
You know how important IUI is for you. All these activities have the potential to affect your IUI success rate. So, it is essential for you to avoid the things we discussed above strictly.
If you still have any doubts or concerns regarding the dos and don’ts after IUI, you can contact your fertility hospital and clear your doubts.
FAQs
You can consume nearly any food as long as it is fresh and cooked properly. Foods to avoid include processed, junk, fried, and excessively sweet, salty, or spicy foods.
Swimming or submerging in water for an extended period is not recommended after an IUI procedure. It increases your chances of getting an infection and can impact your IUI success rates.
Yes, you can urinate after an IUI. Some people believe that the injected semen will spill out if they urinate after IUI. Semen is injected straight into the uterus. Urinating after some bed rest will not harm your chances of becoming pregnant.
