What does it consist of?
It is an assisted reproduction treatment that allows you to optimize to the maximum all the steps involved in achieving a pregnancy without manipulating them in the laboratory, that is, respecting the natural environment of the egg and sperm as much as possible.
Naturally, sperm are deposited at the bottom of the vagina during sexual intercourse, so they have to travel the entire female genital tract to reach the tubes and fertilize the egg. With intrauterine insemination, the previously trained sperm (that is, the best concentration, motility and morphology of the sample) is deposited directly at the bottom of the uterus, closer to the natural meeting point, thus reducing its journey to the place of fertilization.
When is it indicated?
- Mild alterations in sperm quality and/or quantity (mild to moderate male factor).
- Those situations in which no cause is found to justify the couple’s sterility (infertility of unknown origin).
- Women with adequate number of good quality eggs.
- Women with ovulation disorders.
- Alterations in the cervix that prevent the passage of sperm from the vagina to the interior of the genital system.
Intrauterine insemination is recommended to be accompanied by ovulation induction, however, there are cases in which it can be performed during a natural ovulation cycle.
Intrauterine insemination offers lower pregnancy rates than other assisted reproduction treatments, but higher than those of sexual intercourse.
Necessary prerequisites to perform insemination:
- Complete gynecological examination
- Complementary study to rule out any associated pathology that makes pregnancy difficult or impossible
- Semen quality study
Insemination technique
Intrauterine insemination is a simple, quick technique (it lasts just a few minutes) and practically painless. It is performed in the same doctor’s office and no anesthesia is needed.
