The Advanced Fertility Blog

3 Tips On How To Properly Read and Use an IUI Due Date Calculator

Meta description: Looking for information on how an IUI due date calculator works? This article will explain…


Intrauterine insemination is one of the most common fertility treatments, being both highly effective and not cost-prohibitive. Using an IUI due date calculator differs somewhat from using a traditional due date calculator, but calculating your due date is actually more precise if you go through IUI.

How IUI Works

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) can be used to treat both male and female fertility problems, or both. During the procedure, the man’s semen is washed and concentrated. If necessary, the woman may receive fertility medications. Once blood tests or ultrasound show that the woman is ovulating, the semen is injected through the cervix into the uterus.

The chances of pregnancy are much higher with IUI than with sexual intercourse or with artificial insemination, but the procedure is very affordable for most couples, making it a strong choice for the treatment of infertility.

Traditional Due Date Calculations

Due dates are calculated as being 40 weeks past the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period before becoming pregnant. Ovulation and fertilization usually occur about 2 weeks from the start of the last menstrual period, so when a woman is said to be 36 weeks pregnant, the fetus is actually 34 weeks old.

Traditional due date calculators are not very precise, because women’s menstrual cycles vary considerably from woman to woman, and from cycle to cycle for an individual woman.

If a woman is unsure of when her last menstrual period was, then measurements of the embryo can be used to estimate the age of the baby and calculate a due date. This method is most effective in the first trimester, since there is more variation in how quickly babies grow later in pregnancy.

When a woman goes through IUI, she typically knows the exact day that the procedure was performed, and thus the exact day when conception occurred. This means that calculating the due date can be more precise.

Tip 1: Understand What a Due Date Means

A due date is not an expiration date, nor is it a guarantee. The due date is the most likely date for the baby to be born, but the majority of babies are not actually born on their due date.

Babies are considered full term at 37 weeks, and are not considered post-term until after 42 weeks unless complications develop. A baby can be born any time during that period and be perfectly healthy. As long as there are no pregnancy complications, it is best to let the baby come when it is ready.

Tip 2: Understand How Multiple Pregnancy Affects Due Dates

If fertility medication is used in conjunction with IUI, the woman is at an increased risk of having twins, triplets, or higher-order multiples. It is rare for these pregnancies to go to 40 weeks because space in the uterus becomes limited before that point. Therefore, doctors usually work with patients to develop an alternate due date.

Twins are usually considered to be full-term at 37 weeks. For triplets, the doctor may recommend 34 or 35 weeks as a “goal” due date; babies born at this time usually have very good outcomes. For higher-order multiples, if selective reduction is not performed the doctor will work with the patient to establish a due date that will be both healthy and realistic.

Tip 3: Use a Simple IUI Due Date Calculator


If you are interested in treatment for your infertility, Dr. Hugh Melnick would be happy to hear from you. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call Advanced Fertility Services at (212) 369-8700.