Artificial insemination is the injection of semen into the vagina, uterus, or fallopian tubes using a method other than sexual intercourse. This is a technique that is usually recommended by doctors as a first course of treatment for different types of infertility. If you and your partner are considering artificial insemination, then here are some terms you should be familiar with.
- Intrauterine insemination: This is the most common type of artificial insemination. It is a procedure that involves placing sperm directly in the woman’s uterus around the time when an egg is released by the ovaries for a better chance of fertilization.
- Fertilization: Fertilization happens when a sperm travels through the vagina, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes to successfully connect with an egg during ovulation.
- Infertility: If fertilization is unable to happen naturally through sexual intercourse, this is referred to as infertility. Infertility can be a result of many different issues, such as endometriosis, unreceptive cervical mucus, or a semen allergy. Problems with fertility are one of the reasons you might choose artificial insemination. The other would be if you are using donor sperm to become pregnant.
- Subfertility: One of the first steps in analyzing infertility is to analyze a sample of your partner’s semen. If the analysis shows that the sperm is below-average in concentration, has weak movement (motility), or is abnormal in shape and size (morphology), then this can cause problems for fertility. Artificial insemination is good for these kinds of problems since before the procedure, the stronger, healthier sperm are separated from the weaker sperm and don’t have to go through as many obstacles to reach the egg.
- Endometriosis: This is a condition that causes the tissue that normally lines the inside of a woman’s uterus to grow outside of the uterus. This condition can cause infertility, and artificial insemination is common for women who suffer from it.
- Semen sample: The procedure for artificial insemination begins with your partner providing a sample of semen. It is recommended that your partner abstain from sex for two to five days in advance of collecting the semen so that the sample is ensured to have a high level of sperm.
- Sperm washing: After the semen sample is collected, the sperm must be washed in a laboratory within an hour after ejaculation. This process consists of liquefying the sperm at room temperature for 30 minutes, and then a harmless chemical is added to separate out the most active sperm. Finally, a centrifuge is used to collect the best sperm from the batch. The washing process is used because it increases the chance of fertilization.
- Ovulation: The artificial insemination procedure is usually coordinated to coincide with times of ovulation. Your doctor will likely use ovulation kits, ultrasound, or blood tests to make sure your are ovulating when you undergo the procedure to increase your chances of successful fertilization. You also might be instructed to take ovulation-inducing medications beforehand.
- Catheter: After the sperm are collected and washed, they are placed in a thin tube called a catheter. The device is then inserted into the vagina, through the cervix, and into the uterus. This procedure is usually fairly short and painless, with most women comparing to a Pap smear. You may experience cramping or light spotting afterwards.
- Multiple pregnancy: If you are taking ovulation-inducing medications during artificial insemination, this increases your risk for multiple pregnancy. This includes having twins, triplets, or more.
