Artificial insemination is the placement of sperm into a woman’s reproductive tract by other than natural means. The sperm is most often placed in the uterus (intrauterine insemination) or in the cervix (intracervical insemination).

Couples with fertility issues may benefit from artificial insemination. It may be recommended for numerous fertility problems, including low sperm count, impotence, poor interaction between sperm and cervical mucus, endometriosis and unexplained infertility. In these cases, the sperm can be collected and prepared in a way that allows it to be placed into the woman’s reproductive tract. The procedure is typically performed when the woman is ovulating. A number of methods may be used to determine the time of ovulation, including an ovulation test, basal body temperature chart and a cervical mucus examination.

For couples, the cause of infertility must be diagnosed before the procedure is performed. The male’s sperm is analyzed to determine if it is suitable for insemination. Blood tests and ultrasounds may be performed on the woman to determine if she is ovulating normally. For women with irregular ovulation patterns, drugs are frequently used to induce ovulation prior to artificial insemination.  

In some cases, the male partner’s sperm cannot be used for insemination. In these situations, a donor’s sperm can be used. Donor sperm is saved and frozen and is available from sperm banks around the country. The donors are tested for infectious diseases and screened for certain genetic diseases. This option may also be recommended for women without a male partner who wish to become pregnant.  

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that the success rate of artificial insemination may be as high as 15 percent each cycle. Although success rates are higher for other forms of fertility treatments, artificial insemination is often one of the first methods used. It is less invasive and less expensive then more complex procedures, such as in vitro fertilization.