How Does Artificial Insemination Work?

Doctor Recommendation

Artificial insemination is often the first option for couples having difficulty becoming pregnant. The types of infertility that it can treat include cases where the male's sperm count is low, or the sperm is too weak to swim through the cervix and into the fallopian tube. It is also recommended for women whose cervical mucus is unreceptive. In these cases the mucus is hostile to the sperm, preventing them from entering the uterus. Artificial insemination is popular because of the low probability of complications involved. Certain conditions reduce the chances of success with artificial insemination, such as severe endometriosis, damaged fallopian tubes, poor egg or sperm quality and older age in women.

Ovulation

Before artificial insemination can take place, the woman needs to be ovulating. This is the natural process when an egg is released from the ova and enters the fallopian tubes to begin traveling toward the uterus. In most women this occurs once a month as part of their usual menstrual cycle. For some women, doctors recommend using a fertility drug such as Clomid, which causes multiple eggs to be released instead of the usual single egg. The more eggs released during ovulation, the greater the chances that one will become fertilized during artificial insemination, however it can also cause multiple births, such as twins, triplets or more. Multiple births increase the risk during pregnancy for both the mother and the fetuses.

Insemination

Once ovulation is confirmed through blood tests, ultrasound or ovulation kits, the semen is collected. To ensure the maximum number of sperm in a semen sample, men are asked to abstain from sex for up to five days prior to the procedure. Because the semen must be processed within an hour of ejaculation, most fertility clinics provide a private room for the semen collection. Through masturbation the male produces a semen sample. The clinic then washes the semen, removing chemicals that cause discomfort in some women. After resting at room temperature for half an hour, a harmless additive is used, follow by spinning in a centrifuge to separate the strongest sperm from the sample. The processed sperm are then transferred into a catheter, a long thin tube. The doctor will insert the catheter into the woman's body to deposit the sperm. Depending on the procedure, the sperm may be introduced to the cervix, the uterus or the fallopian tube. Some women report mild cramping or bleeding as a result of the artificial insemination. After the procedure, women are asked to remain lying down for 15 to 45 minutes, but then they can resume normal activities. Within a week tests should be able to confirm whether conception took place.