An IUI is a procedure in which washed semen is introduced into the uterine cavity with the help of a vaginal speculum and a small plastic tube. This bypasses some possible vaginal and cervical factors which might impair fertility in some couples. The procedure also results in a 100-fold increase in the amount of sperm reaching the uterine cavity. In order to perform the IUI, we need to first wash the sample.

We have chosen Stanford Medical Center's excellent Reproductive and Endocrinology lab (REI lab) to perform the washing. They are located at the Medical Center on the third floor to the left of the elevators as you get off.

Their phone number is 723-5680.

After the washing has been performed, we will have you pick up the sample and bring it to the Los Altos Center where the IUI will be performed. The one exception is on the weekends when when Stanford Medical Center staff will be performing the IUI. (See weekends).

1. What do I have to do to get started:

• After you have decided to start IUI, please do the following:


• Sign an IUI consent form in our office which we will fax to the REI department (723-6420)


• Have us submit an insurance authorization for the treatment.
• Obtain pre-IUI blood tests on the husband. This is required by California law. They include HIV, HTLV-1, RPR, Hepatitis B and C. These tests can be done in our clinic. We will fax the results to the REI department. The results can take up to 2 weeks to come back.


• Call your liaison person MARY at the REI department (498-7911->option #3). Identify yourselves as Los Altos patients and she will register both of you over the phone.


• Pick up 3 signed Pink REI Lab slips from us.


• Pick up 3 sterile specimen containers from us.

2. What do I do if I am using clomid with ovulation predictor kits:

• Purchase a urine ovulation predictor kit from your drugstore.


• We recommend using Ovu-Quick. For best prices go to DISCO REX PHARMACY at 328 University, Palo Alto, CA. The are open Monday- Saturday 9-6.


• Begin testing on Cycle Day 11 unless instructed to start on a different day (cycle day #1 is the first day of your menses). Do the test prior to 10 AM each day. Continue testing every day until you get a positive result indicating that you will soon ovulate or until cycle day 18 has arrived and you still have not seen a positive result. If this occurs, it means you probably did not ovulate that month. Please call our advice nurses to have a cycle day 21 progesterone drawn to make sure the test kit did no miss the ovulation. If you have any questions abou this call the advice nurses at 254-5250.

3. Weekday IUI:

• Please obtain new labels EACH time you need to have the washing done. They can be picked up at the outpatient admitting area at Stanford (open 24 hours a day). They are located at the front door to the left by the fountains of the Stanford Medical Center. You can pick these up at your convenience a day prior to needing them.


• Bring a specimen container with you to the lab.


• Bring one of the pink REI LAB slips with you to the REI LAB.


• Drop off the sample at the REI lab between 8 and 11 AM. Please come in as early as you can in the morning. the wash will take approximately 2-2.5 hours. After you have dropped off the sample, please call our Advice Nurse at 254-5250 in order to schedule the IUI itself with one of our physcians.

4. Weekend and Holiday IUI

The same instructions apply here except that the time window when when you can drop off the smaple is smaller (8:00-8:30 AM), and the IUI will be done by the Stanford Medical Center Staff.

Please also note that if you expect to need an IUI on Saturday or Sunday, please call Mary before 11:00 AM on Friday at 498-7911 option #3 to let them know that you might be needing an IUI over the weekend. This will help her with staffing. If it turns out that you will not need the IUI on the weekend after all, please cancel it by leaving a message on Mary's phone at the same number.

5. What do I do if I am planning to use donor samples IUI:

• First talk to us about setting up an account with the California Cryo Bank.


• Make sure the tank arrives at the REI lab by cycle day #11. Their address is REI LAB, Third Floor, 300 Pastueru Drive, Stanford, CA 94305.


• Have us fax the Pink REI form to them 498-5024


• Call the REI lab at 723-5680 between 8:00 and 8:30 AM the morning you need to have the IUI allowing time for specimen thawing.


• During weekends and holiday, the weekend instructions (see above) will apply.

6. What to do if we are planning to use injectable medications:

• Call our Advice Nurses and leave a message with Kathie Bradshaw RN at 254-5250 who will set up a time for injection training and will do insurance authorization..


• Note that a new that a new authorization has to be done when you start injectable medications