IUI with Donor Sperm
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) with donor sperm is a straightforward and effective fertility treatment designed to bring together your egg and donor sperm at the right place and time for fertilisation. During the procedure, carefully screened donor sperm is placed directly into your uterus just after ovulation, giving it the best possible chance of reaching and fertilising your egg.
IUI with donor sperm is a popular option for single women and female same-sex couples who wish to conceive without a male partner. It’s also suitable for heterosexual couples with male fertility challenges. IUI is a less invasive and more affordable alternative to in vitro fertilisation (IVF), providing a gentle first step on the path to parenthood.
Page Guide
We understand that fertility treatment can be a complex and emotional journey. Our team is dedicated to providing you with all the information and support you need throughout the process.
How does it work?
Selecting donor sperm
You can use sperm donated by someone you know or choose from our highly regulated sperm bank, or one of our trusted partner banks. All donor sperm is carefully screened, frozen and stored safely in line with strict Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) guidelines.
Sperm preparation
Before insemination, donor sperm is gently ‘washed’ to select the healthiest, most active sperm. This process maximises the chances of successful fertilisation.
Timing the insemination
IUI is timed to coincide precisely with ovulation. Depending on your treatment plan, your cycle may be monitored using scans and hormone tests, and fertility medication may be recommended to stimulate ovulation.
The insemination procedure
The insemination itself is quick, gentle and painless. The prepared donor sperm is placed directly into your uterus using a fine catheter. Many people describe the experience as similar to a cervical screening test. It typically takes only a few minutes.
After your procedure
You usually can return to normal activities straight away. Two weeks later, you’ll take a pregnancy test, and if the result is positive, a scan is scheduled at around 35 days.
For female same-sex couples, IUI with donor sperm is a natural and inclusive way to grow your family. Using carefully screened donor sperm from our regulated sperm bank or a known donor, one partner can carry the pregnancy while both share in the experience of conception.
As with all IUI treatments, the donor sperm is prepared and inseminated at the most fertile point in the cycle to maximise the chance of pregnancy. Your fertility consultant will guide you and your partner through testing, treatment options and timing.
Many couples start with IUI as a gentle first step before exploring other options such as IVF or shared motherhood, where one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy.
Is IUI right for me?
Our fertility specialists will let you know if IUI is right for you and if so, it will be included in your treatment plan.
As a guide, IUI may suit you if you have fully functioning fallopian tubes and you are under the age of 35 yrs. Having one, or a combination, of the following criteria could also mean that IUI could help you realise the dream of becoming a parent.
- Are a single woman
- Are part of a same-sex female couple
- Want to try a treatment less invasive than IVF
Flexible Pricing Options
To help make your treatment affordable and achievable, we offer fixed price treatment package options and a variety of finance solutions for patients looking to spread all or part of the cost of their treatment.
Explore our prices
Discover our prices and finance options, making treatments more accessible for you.
Book a 15 minute Discovery call
Schedule a Discovery call to find out which tests and treatments are right for you.
Fertility funding partners we work with:
We’re incredibly proud of our success rates
At Bourn Hall, you can be assured of the best chances of having a baby within the shortest possible time. If you are under 35, you have a 73%* chance of falling pregnant within one year.
*Data from 2021
Younger than 35
If you are under 35, you have a 73% chance of falling pregnant within one year.
35 to 39 years old
If you are 35-37 years old and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have a 63% (50% for 38-39 year olds) chance of getting pregnant (pregnancy seen on scan) within one year.
40+ years old
If you are a female aged over 40 and you continue treatment with Bourn Hall, you have about a 25% chance of getting pregnant within one year.
We provide world-class support throughout the fertility journey.
As one of the UK’s top fertility treatment centres, our values ensure we put our patients first.
Passion
Adaptability
Commitment
Teamwork and Collaboration
Our excellence in fertility treatment
1978
The world's first IVF baby
1980
Year founded by IVF pioneers
25000
Babies born through Bourn Hall
Patient reviews you can trust
Genuine experiences from real patients. See why so many trust us with their fertility care.
“We went to an open evening at Bourn Hall Wickford and came away feeling really positive about the place. The staff were really friendly and the presentation was clear about the statistics regarding success rates and live birth rates; their data was very transparent. We came away feeling like we would really be looked after.”
Katy and Leigh are parents to Charlie after IVF
Patient 2023
“We chose to make an appointment at Bourn Hall Wickford because of the favourable reviews. When we got there and met the staff they were just so lovely, making us feel welcome and explaining to us what tests would need to be done and what our options were; we just thought ‘yes, let’s get the ball rolling!”
Jess and Fran are mums to Nathan after IVF with donor sperm
Patient 2023
Your Stories
Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are always inspired by the success stories they have to share. Hear directly from our previous patients as they share their unique journeys to parenthood.
Everything Happens for a Reason: Laura and Kevin’s Journey
Sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn that changes everything. When Laura discovered a lump and was diagnosed…
Shared Motherhood Journey: Jessica & Orlagh
Jessica and Orlagh’s path to becoming parents wasn’t straightforward, but through treatment at Bourn Hall, their dream…
Rebecca and Tadeusz’s journey to parenthood was long and challenging
Rebecca and Tadeusz’s journey to parenthood was long and challenging. After seven attempts and multiple chemical miscarriages,…
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Learn more about the options available to you, from fertility tests to treatments, and find answers to any questions you might have.
Related Content
If you qualify for NHS-funded fertility treatment under the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, our fertility diagnostic pathway is the same as the services offered by your local NHS hospital but with much shorter waiting times and in an environment dedicated to fertility services.
Our male couples fertility testing package includes semen analysis tests for you both, a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist and a private consultation.
We offer fertility health and wellbeing packages at our clinics in Cambridge, Norwich, Wickford, or at home. Our male package includes a semen analysis, a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist, and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Our female couples fertility testing package includes options to provide you both with results on your fertility. These include AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone; an ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Our female package includes the option of AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone, an ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results. Additionally, we include a free 30-minute consultation with our fertility nutritionist to provide you with nutrition and lifestyle advice.
For heterosexual couples, our female and male fertility testing package includes the option of semen analysis; AMH blood tests for ovarian reserve; TSH to assess your thyroid stimulating hormone; ultrasound scan; and personalised doctor-written report explaining your results.
Once you’ve made the decision to extend your family, even thinking that you might have a fertility issue can be stressful. And for a man, the thought that your sperm might not be in tip-top condition is definitely a cause for concern.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions answered. Find clarity on every step of your fertility journey.