IUI may be done in a natural cycle but usually the woman is given medication to stimulate the ovaries for development of multiple eggs and insemination is timed to coincide with ovulation.

Semen sample is collected either at home or in the hospital after 2-5 days of abstinence.

Semen is washed in the laboratory using either a gradient method or a swim up technique. This process is called sperm processing and takes about 30-40 minutes.

About 0.4-0.5 ml of culture media is finally added to the washed sperms and the sample is ready for insemination.