For many couples who need assistance conceiving, intrauterine insemination (IUI) is often one of the first steps. A much less invasive — and expensive — procedure than IVF, IUI is basically artificial insemination: Sperm is injected via a catheter directly into the uterus, reducing the distance it has to travel to the fallopian tubes and (hopefully!) increasing the likelihood that an egg will be fertilized. The problem though, is that IUI isn’t always successful, and that can be hard both financially and emotionally on those looking to become parents.
The good news? According to The Telegraph, researchers in the UK may have found a way to make IUI procedures just as successful as IVF, but without the higher price tag. And, as it turns out, they’ve also made it much more convenient — patients could theoretically get inseminated at home, at work, or even in the grocery store.
Yep, you read that right.
The product — called the “Evie” — is a discrete, one-time-use, slow-release pump, which releases sperm into the uterus over about a four-hour period, according to Epigee Women’s Health. And once it’s been put in place by a doctor, the patient is free to leave and go about her day, while Evie works its magic strapped to the inside of her thigh.
Women could conceive at their desks thanks to new fertility pump that 'might be as successful as IVF'https://t.co/hv40AXKD1z pic.twitter.com/TVVBZ5HXSc
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 1, 2016
The slow-release aspect of Evie is particularly what makes it so effective. By releasing sperm into the uterus slowly, Evie gives the sperm more time to reach the egg, increasing the likelihood that it’ll get fertilized by a strong sperm, while decreasing the likelihood that the egg will get bombarded by a rush of sperm and not get fertilized at all (a common problem with IUI). And unlike traditional IUI, where sperm is introduced into the uterus quickly, Evie is designed to more closely mimic natural conception, where the cervix releases sperm slowly over a period of time.
According to Reproductive Sciences, the company behind Evie, the product has shown pretty remarkable results in clinical trials, with up to a 30 percent success rate, and is, on average, about 2.5 times more effective than standard IUI procedures. Not everyone is a prime candidate, though: Evie is best suited for women under 35 years of age, and is considered a potential solution for couples with unexplained infertility, for cases where “male subfertility” is an issue, for women with grade 1-2 endometriosis, or for general donor insemination (as in the case of same-sex couples).
Although Evie isn’t yet available for clinical use, it definitely sounds promising, and could be a great option for anyone considering IUI who wants to increase their chances of it being successful. And while I can’t exactly say the idea of walking around with a catheter of sperm slowly being released into my uterus sounds particularly appealing, iI will say this: If it means getting pregnant without having to endure the difficulty of IVF, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that Evie will be a dream come true for many women longing to become mothers.