How Does Artificial Insemination Work?

Reasons

There are a number of reasons why a female would opt for artificial insemination. One such cause is if the woman's partner suffers from mild infertility (a condition in which the male has either abnormally low numbers of sperm, or if the sperm have poor motility). Women may also opt for artificial insemination if their cervical fluid is too thick for the sperm to get through, or if they are allergic to semen. It can also be done for any woman who is having fertility problems. Finally, for obvious reasons, artificial insemination is necessary for any women looking to become pregnant via a sperm donor.

Basics

The basic idea behind artificial insemination (intrauterine insemination) is that a semen sample is taken by the medical laboratory. This sperm in this semen are then washed and concentrated to get as many sperm in as small a volume as possible. This concentrated sperm is then placed directly into the female's uterus, generally in the day or two after ovulation. The goal of this treatment is that the sperm will swim up the fallopian tubes (which is where the egg is waiting) and fertilize the egg. The egg will then migrate down to the uterus and implant there, resulting in a successful pregnancy.

Preparation

The first step for artificial insemination is the procurement of a sperm sample. This can be given by the male donor at the office, or a frozen sample can be thawed and used. The sperm sample will be washed to separate highly mobile and healthy sperm from damaged sperm. Next, the fertility doctor will either monitor ovulation using a special machine called a trans-vaginal ultrasound or will ask the patient to use a home ovulation predictor kit. Finally, the female will either go in the day after ovulation (when levels of the luteinizing hormone are high) or receive an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. Either way, the goal is to bring the female patient in for the procedure on the day when she is most fertile.