What is ICI treatment (Intra Cervical/Vaginal Insemination)?
Intra Cervical Insemination (ICI) is a fertility treatment that entails the sperm being inseminated into the entrance of the cervical/vaginal channel using a small plastic needle. Therefore, some call it The Turkey Baster Method. It can be done in the privacy of your own home without any medical assistance. It can also be done at clinics. If ICI treatment is performed in your own home it is called home insemination. When doing home insemination, it is important to keep track of your ovulation, so you know when to inseminate.
ICI is typically performed with raw sperm. Being “unwashed”, this type of sperm contains the reproductive cells as well as seminal plasma and prostate secretions. It is to be noted that raw sperm is not sterile and must not be used for intra-uterine insemination (IUI treatment) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF treatment). However, if ICI unwashed sperm is not available in your favorite sperm donor, then IUI-ready sperm can be used instead. Follow the link to learn more about the difference between ICI and IUI sperm straws.
The pregnancy rate for ICI varies from 20-25% for a young, healthy woman’s first treatment to less than 5% for older women. If no pregnancy is achieved after 3-6 treatment cycles, we recommend more advanced treatments.
Many people start with ICI or IUI, follow the link to read about ICI vs IUI and what separates them from each other.