Artificial insemination is a medical technique that may offer a simple option with relatively few side effects for some couples who cannot conceive naturally.
During artificial insemination, a doctor places sperm directly into the cervix, fallopian tubes, or uterus. The most common method is intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which sperm is placed in the uterus.
How can this help? It shortens the sperm’s journey and bypasses possible barriers. Your doctor may recommend it as an initial infertility treatment.
Artificial insemination can be used for many fertility problems. For male-factor infertility, it is often used when the sperm count is very low or sperm cannot pass through the cervix into the fallopian tubes.
For female-factor infertility, it may be used for endometriosis or abnormalities of the reproductive organs. It may also be suitable when cervical mucus is hostile to sperm, preventing sperm from entering the uterus and fallopian tubes. Artificial insemination allows sperm to bypass the cervical mucus.
Doctors also often recommend artificial insemination when the cause of a couple’s infertility cannot be identified.
Your doctor will use ovulation tests, ultrasound, or blood tests to confirm that you are ovulating at the time of insemination. Your partner will then provide a semen sample. The doctor may recommend avoiding sexual activity for 2 to 5 days before the procedure to help ensure a higher sperm count.
If you live near the clinic, your partner may be able to collect the sample at home. Otherwise, collection will take place in a private room. Proximity matters because the sperm must be “washed” in the laboratory within 1 hour of ejaculation.
Sperm washing removes chemicals in semen that could cause discomfort and concentrates the most active sperm. Technicians allow the semen to liquefy at room temperature for 30 minutes, then use a safe solution to separate the most motile sperm. The sperm is placed in a thin tube called a catheter and passed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus.
Artificial insemination is brief and relatively painless. Many women compare it to a Pap test. You may have mild cramping during the procedure and light bleeding afterward. Your doctor may ask you to lie down for 15 to 45 minutes. You can then resume normal activities.
Before the procedure, your doctor may prescribe fertility medication such as clomiphene to help your body release more than one egg.
Success rates for artificial insemination vary. Factors associated with a lower chance of success include:
Older maternal age
Poor egg or sperm quality
Severe endometriosis
Severely damaged fallopian tubes, often due to a long-term infection
The procedure is not suitable for everyone. Some couples may need several attempts to conceive, while others may not succeed.
Your doctor may recommend at least three to six cycles before moving to another treatment. If artificial insemination is unsuccessful, other options include in vitro fertilization using your own eggs, donor eggs, or donor sperm.
Compare costs before choosing a clinic. Prices vary widely. Confirm that the estimate includes hormones, other medications, and sperm washing. Donor sperm carries an additional cost per vial. Ask the clinic in advance which costs may be covered by insurance.
Knowledge | Infertility and Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination is a medical technique that may offer a simple option with relatively few side effects for some couples who cannot conceive naturally.
During artificial insemination, a doctor places sperm directly into the cervix, fallopian tubes, or uterus. The most common method is intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which sperm is placed in the uterus.
How can this help? It shortens the sperm’s journey and bypasses possible barriers. Your doctor may recommend it as an initial infertility treatment.
Artificial insemination can be used for many fertility problems. For male-factor infertility, it is often used when the sperm count is very low or sperm cannot pass through the cervix into the fallopian tubes.
For female-factor infertility, it may be used for endometriosis or abnormalities of the reproductive organs. It may also be suitable when cervical mucus is hostile to sperm, preventing sperm from entering the uterus and fallopian tubes. Artificial insemination allows sperm to bypass the cervical mucus.
Doctors also often recommend artificial insemination when the cause of a couple’s infertility cannot be identified.
Your doctor will use ovulation tests, ultrasound, or blood tests to confirm that you are ovulating at the time of insemination. Your partner will then provide a semen sample. The doctor may recommend avoiding sexual activity for 2 to 5 days before the procedure to help ensure a higher sperm count.
If you live near the clinic, your partner may be able to collect the sample at home. Otherwise, collection will take place in a private room. Proximity matters because the sperm must be “washed” in the laboratory within 1 hour of ejaculation.
Sperm washing removes chemicals in semen that could cause discomfort and concentrates the most active sperm. Technicians allow the semen to liquefy at room temperature for 30 minutes, then use a safe solution to separate the most motile sperm. The sperm is placed in a thin tube called a catheter and passed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus.
Artificial insemination is brief and relatively painless. Many women compare it to a Pap test. You may have mild cramping during the procedure and light bleeding afterward. Your doctor may ask you to lie down for 15 to 45 minutes. You can then resume normal activities.
Before the procedure, your doctor may prescribe fertility medication such as clomiphene to help your body release more than one egg.
Success rates for artificial insemination vary. Factors associated with a lower chance of success include:
Older maternal age
Poor egg or sperm quality
Severe endometriosis
Severely damaged fallopian tubes, often due to a long-term infection
The procedure is not suitable for everyone. Some couples may need several attempts to conceive, while others may not succeed.
Your doctor may recommend at least three to six cycles before moving to another treatment. If artificial insemination is unsuccessful, other options include in vitro fertilization using your own eggs, donor eggs, or donor sperm.
Compare costs before choosing a clinic. Prices vary widely. Confirm that the estimate includes hormones, other medications, and sperm washing. Donor sperm carries an additional cost per vial. Ask the clinic in advance which costs may be covered by insurance.