Artificial insemination is an alternative to sexual intercourse for producing a pregnancy. Artificial insemination is defined as a medical procedure in which sperm from the male partner or donor is placed in a syringe and injected into the cervix or uterus of the woman, according to the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology.
Regulatory Requirements
Because artificial insemination is a medical procedure, certain regulatory requirements apply. For instance, if donor sperm is to be used, the donor must meet specific donor eligibility criteria set forth by the Food and Drug Administration before he can donate sperm to be used for artificial insemination. Sperm donors are expected to pass a social medical history, a physical exam and a battery of blood tests before they are deemed eligible to donate.
The Society for Male Reproduction and Urology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine have published joint recommendations for donor insemination requirements in addition to the FDA requirements. The professional guidelines recommend a genetic and psychological evaluation of the prospective donor and a three-generation medical history.
If the patient's sexual partner is providing the semen sample for artificial insemination, these FDA donor eligibility regulations do not apply.
Semen Quality
In order for artificial insemination to be successful, a minimal quantity and quality of sperm must be available for the insemination. Processing of the semen ejaculate typically results in the loss of some of the sperm, so the original sample must have an excess number of sperm. Sperm used for the insemination must be motile, alive and sufficient in number. California Cryobank, one of the main donor sperm banks in the United States, guarantees a minimum of 5 to 15 million motile sperm per vial, suggesting this range is likely compatible with insemination success.
Ovulation Induction
In order for artificial insemination to result in pregnancy, at least one mature egg must be available for fertilization. Ovulation induction is frequently used to hormonally stimulate the female patient to produce and ovulate more than the single mature egg produced in a natural cycle, according to the Stanford Hospital and Clinics website.
Artificial insemination can be used with either an unstimulated natural cycle or an ovulation induction cycle, according to MayoClinic.com.
Open Fallopian Tubes
The normal site of fertilization in the body is within the fallopian tubes. Sperm deposited into the cervix or uterus must be able to swim into the fallopian tube, which is attached to the uterus. Inside the fallopian tube, the sperm encounters the ovulated egg and fertilizes the egg. If the fallopian tubes are removed, tied or blocked, it is impossible for sperm to meet and fertilize the egg, resulting in insemination failure.
References
- Society for Male Reproduction and Urology: Artificial Insemination
- Food and Drug Administration: Donor Eligibility Final Rule and Guidance Questions and Answers
- Society for Male Reproduction and Urology: 2008 Guidelines for gamete and embryo donation: a Practice Committee report
- California Cryobank: Specimen Quality Standards
- Stanford Hospital & Clinics: Ovulation Induction and Intrauterine Insemination Program
