Artificial Insemination

Artificial InseminationWhat is Artificial Insemination?the injection of semen into the vagina or uterus other than by sexual intercourse.

Artificial Inseminationthe injection of semen into the vagina or uterus other than by sexual intercourse.

What is Artificial Insemination?

Depositing a mans semen in the vagina, cervical canal or uterus, through the use of instruments to bring about conception without sexual intercourse.

Artificial InseminationHow is it done? Intravaginal Intracervical IntrauterineArtificial InseminationTwo types of AI

1. Homologous insemination (AIH) Semen is from the husband. Heterologous insemination (AID) Semen from other person other than husband

Artificial InseminationMethods Do-it-yourself.Homologous IVF and ET Homologous in vitro and embryo transfer

Homologous Artificial InseminationMethod

Heterologous IVF and ET

Heterologous artificial inseminationArtificial Insemination by Donor (AID) has been widely used around the world by couples who want to have children but cannot due to male factor issues such as physical infertility or psychological conditions.Bioethical IssuesThe purpose of this Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is for women to achieve fertilization and pregnancy by using a donor's sperm, typically when Artificial Insemination by her partner is not available.Bioethical IssuesExamples of Bioethical IssuesBypassing the natural method of conception,Creating life in laboratory,Fertilizing more embryos than will be needed,Discarding excess embryos,Unnatural environment for embryos,Expensive technology, not affordable for common man,Bioethical IssuesExamples of Bioethical IssuesCreating embryos, freezing them and keeping them in limbo,Destroying embryos in research,Potential to select embryos,Selective termination of embryos etc.Bioethical IssuesA woman may want to raise a child alone - in this case she would request a sperm donor to be artificially inseminated.The female may be infertile due tocervical factor infertility- the cervix is supposed to produce a mucus that helps sperm travel to the womb. With cervical factor infertility, the cervix is either not producing enough of this mucus, or it is producing mucus containing sperm killing substances.

Why is AI used ?The woman may be sufferingEndometriosis- this is when cells from the womb lining start to grow in places they should not within the woman's reproductive system e.g. ovaries or fallopian tubes. One of the possible results of this condition is infertility. Artificial insemination can be successful in mild to moderate cases of this.

Why is AI used ?The female could have semen allergy - this is rare but can still happen, due to certain proteins in the sperm the woman may suffer an allergic reaction when the sperm makes contact. With IUI most of the proteins would be removed before sperm insertion.

Why is AI used ?The male is unable to produce enough sperm for successful fertilization.The man is impotent(erectile dysfunction)- and would therefore be unable to perform sexual intercourse.The male could be infertile as a result of a medical treatment - some treatments carry the risk of infertility e.g. radiotherapy. Before the treatment the male would have been given the chance to freeze some of his sperm.Why is AI used ?The couple could be in same sex relationship - two women who want to raise a child together would use sperm from a donor, which one of the women would receive via artificial insemination.Reason for infertility cannot be determined - IUI may be recommended to a couple that cannot conceive even if no underlying reason for the infertility can be identified.

Why is AI used ?