Infertility

Methods of Overcoming Infertility

Artificial Insemination (AI)
"Artificial insemination" is a general term. It refers to the medical procedure of injecting sperm into the female reproductive system during a woman's fertile days. Depending on the case, this could be close to the cervix, in the cervix, in the uterus, or in the Fallopian tubes.
The semen, which is obtained by masturbation, is usually that of the woman's husband or steady partner (homologue insemination). However, if he should prove to be sterile the semen of an anonymous donor can be used ("heterologue insemination" or "donor insemination"). Such a sperm donor is selected by the physician and known only to him. In selecting the donor, the physician normally tries to find a man whose physical characteristics resemble those of the husband or partner, and whose medical history indicates good general health. However, there are also single women or women with female partners who want to become mothers and therefore take advantage of artificial insemination. They often specify the desired physical qualities of the anonymous donor.
The most common procedure consists of injecting the sperm into the uterus. It is quick and uncomplicated. The doctor inserts a fine tube through the cervix into the uterus and there deposits the sperm. This "intrauterine insemination" (IUI) allows the sperm to bypass the barrier of cervical mucus, and thus even an ejaculate with a low sperm count and/or insufficient sperm motility has a chance to effect fertilization.