Artificial Insemination

 

Intrauterine insemination (artificial insemination) is the injection of the specially processed sperm of the husband or donor into the uterine cavity through plastic catheter inserted into the cervical channel (the neck of the uterus).

 

Insemination with the husband’s sperm (artificial insemination) is recommended in case of infertility of unknown genesis, insignificant decrease of the quality of sperm or difficulties during sexual intercourse.

 

Artificial insemination can be prescribed parallel to the process of the ovary stimulation with medicines or during its normal (not stimulated) cycle depending on the concrete situation. To stimulate ovulation clomiphen citrate or gonadotrophins are prescribed. The stimulation of ovulation improves the efficiency of insemination as it results in maturing of two-three follicles and not one, as it happens during the normal menstrual cycle. The side effect of the stimulation is the high risk of pregnancy with twins or triplets.

 

For the right identification of the time of insemination an ultrasound monitoring is conducted on the 8-9^th day of the menstrual cycle. When the leading follicle reaches 17-18 mm in size, HCG is injected for the final maturing of the oocyte and ovulation. 12-40 hours after HCG injection artificial insemination is conducted. Generally the frequency of insemination during one natural or treatment cycle is identified based on the supposed time of ovulation, character of the oocyte and ovaries’ reaction to the stimulation of ovulation. Insemination takes 1-3 procedures.

 

Specially processed sperm is placed in the syringe connected to the thin plastic catheter. Before the insemination spermatozoa should be separated from the ejaculate, as the ejaculate may irritate the uterus and cause severe pains. The sperm washing allows to separate the most mobile spermatozoa. During the insemination procedure the doctor smoothly injects catheter to the uterus through the cervical channel followed by the injection of the sperm. The insemination procedure is painless and doesn’t need any anesthesia.

 

During the treatment program you’ll need to pay 3-4 visits to the clinic for the ultrasound monitoring and insemination itself.