Insemination Treatment for Couples and Single Women

Insemination involves a procedure where sperm is injected into the woman’s uterus. This procedure can use either the man’s own sperm or donated sperm. For female couples and single women, donated sperm is used.

Insemination can be performed during a woman’s natural cycle if ovulation occurs or in a cycle where ovulation is induced with medication. Insemination may be chosen as a treatment option when the cause of infertility is a mild issue with the man’s sperm production or if the sperm cannot swim through the cervical canal. It can also be used as a treatment for unexplained infertility in younger individuals.

The prerequisites for insemination include a normal female anatomy with open fallopian tubes. Sperm quality, including quantity and motility, also needs to be adequate. Basic fertility assessments include a semen analysis for the male partner and tracking the woman’s cycle, as well as evaluating the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

What is the insemination procedure like?

For insemination, the best sperm are separated from the semen through a process called sperm washing in the laboratory. These washed sperm are then injected into the uterus using a thin plastic catheter around the time of ovulation, either on the same day or the following day after a positive ovulation test. The procedure is usually quick and is generally painless. After the procedure, you can continue with your regular activities.

Insemination with Donor Sperm

Insemination can also be performed using donated sperm. This situation may arise if a male partner has no viable sperm. Donated sperm is also used for single women and female couples. Donors undergo comprehensive health assessments before sperm donation, including check-up to rule out hereditary diseases and infections.

Results of Insemination

Several factors influence the likelihood of success in insemination, with the woman’s age being a significant one. The cause and duration of infertility also play a role.

For women under 40, the chances of pregnancy are approximately 10% per insemination if infertility has persisted for about a year. The probability of pregnancy increases with repeated treatments. When donated sperm is used, the chances of pregnancy are slightly higher, around 15% per treatment. This is because donated sperm is often used for single women or female couples, where the primary issue is not infertility. Donated sperm also goes through stringent quality criteria. The likelihood of success is slightly increased for everyone if medication is used to induce and support ovulation.

Antenatal care does not differ from standard pregnancy care after insemination.