Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination is one of the clinically used assisted reproductive techniques to achieve conception by inserting semen into the female reproductive tract through non-coital means. According to the source of semen selected, it can be divided into artificial insemination by husband semen (AIH) and artificial insemination by donor semen (AID). According to the site of insemination, there are intravaginal artificial insemination (IVI), intracervical artificial insemination (ICI), intrauterine insemination (IUI) and intra-tubal artificial insemination (ITI).
Currently, our hospital performs intrauterine insemination with husband’s semen.
Indications for intrauterine insemination
1. Semen abnormalities Mild to moderate oligospermia, weak spermia, non-severe teratospermia, abnormal semen liquefaction.
2. Infertility caused by abnormal cervical mucus that prevents sperm from passing through the cervix.
3. Sexual intercourse disorder caused by sexual dysfunction or genital tract abnormality.
4. Ovulation disorder, mild endometriosis which is ineffective by drug treatment.
5.Unexplained infertility.
6.Immune infertility.
Contraindications to intrauterine insemination
1. The female partner has obstacle in combining sperm and egg due to tubal factors;
2. The female partner is suffering from serious genetic, physical or mental diseases that are not suitable for pregnancy;
3. A party suffering from acute infectious diseases of the genitourinary system or sexually transmitted diseases;
4, one of the parties has recently been exposed to teratogenic radiation, toxic substances, or taken teratogenic drugs, drugs, etc. and is in the period of action.
The basic conditions for the implementation of intrauterine insemination
1, the basic conditions of the female party.
(1) Patency of the fallopian tubes: can be diagnosed by hysterosalpingography, hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy, with at least one side patency.
(2) Normal uterine development or abnormal but not affecting the operation of human insemination and the development of the fetus.
(3) Normal ovarian function: follicles ≥18mm in diameter are found by ultrasound monitoring after natural cycle or ovulation-promoting drug treatment.
2. Basic conditions for male partner.
Sperm density ≥ 5×106 ml, activity rate ≥ 30%. Forward motion sperm count >10×106 after optimization treatment.
Procedure of intrauterine insemination
After the doctor’s examination, the patient is considered suitable for the treatment. The patient needs to build a medical record in advance, the couple should undergo various laboratory tests, prepare relevant documents or certificates (couple’s ID card, marriage certificate, birth certificate or certificate of fertility), sign the Informed Consent Form, and formulate an ovulation promotion program according to the patient’s specific situation. After the follicles have matured, ovulation is induced by injection of ovulation-promoting drugs. 24-48 hours later, the couple comes to the hospital and the husband collects semen and hands it over to the laboratory staff. The sperm will be washed to remove the mucus, impurities and dead sperm from the semen, and the sperm with good vitality will be sent directly into the uterine cavity by catheter to unite the sperm with the egg to achieve fertilization and pregnancy. A pregnancy test is performed 14 days after IUI to determine whether or not a pregnancy has occurred. Clinically, the pregnancy rate of IUI treatment is about 10-20% per cycle, so it is generally recommended to schedule 3-4 cycles of IUI treatment.