Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination is a fertility treatment by which sperm is delivered to the female using a tube to either the cervix (ICI) or the uterus (IUI). It is used as an alternative method to achieve pregnancy. This procedure is most commonly performed when there are male or female infertility factors or when using donor sperm.

ICI or IUI are very quick and painless procedure that can be attempted many times without any injury to the receiving party. Insemination can be performed using either natural cycle (timed to the woman's normal cycle) or a stimulated cycle (use of follicle stimulating hormone).

A patient can discuss with her physician, which method is perferable for her situation. Typically, the least agressive method of the natural cycle is attempted before the other. Many people feel that 2-3 cycles of each are the maximum number that should be attempted before moving on to a more agressive fertility treatment option. A common suggested success rate for artificial insemination without significant female fertility factors would be 12.5% per IUI cycle. The rates may either increase with use of either Clomid (clomiphene citrate) or stimulated cycle (FSH). In general, women who are ovulating regularly often times undergo 4-6 cycles of donor inseminations without ovarian stimuation before moving on to stronger innovations. This way, the risk of multiple pregnancy and its consequences is reduced.

IMPORTANT: California Law requires that lab testing will be completed prior to artificial insemination. If both partners are involved in the procedure, lab testing for HIV I & II, HTLV I & II, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C Virus and RPR is due on both parties. Testing must have been drawn within 6 months to be valid.

 

Artificial Insemination Method

The insemination procedure involves injecting prepared sperm into the female reproductive tract through the vagina. This procedure is performed by a physician, a skilled registered nurse, or other specialists with special training and experience in the field of fertility treatment.

 

The Fertility Center of California can provide two types of inseminations depending on your doctor's instructions:

• Intracervical insemination (depositing of sperm into the cervical opening).
• Intrauterine insemination (depositing of sperm into the uterus). In this case, sperm must be specifically prepared or "washed" to prevent possible complications.

In both cases, inseminations are performed at the time of or prior to ovulation. Ovulation is determined by monitoring the menstrual cycle, measuring the basal body temperature, evaluating the quality of cervical mucus, using ovulation predictor kits and/or gynecological sonograms.

 

Duration of Insemination Procedure

The insemination procedure takes 5 to 10 minutes and is usually performed once or twice a month until pregnancy is achieved. One vial of specimen is used for one insemination attempt. However, some physicians like to use two vials per insemination or even perform two inseminations per cycle. No one can predict in advance how many vials are needed to achieve a pregnancy. The vials can also be used in advanced reproductive techniques such as IVF.