✓ Artificial insemination

Scientific advice from, gynecologist and endocrinologist of the Maugeri Foundation - University of Pavia

L'artificial insemination it is nothing more than fertilization using unnatural methods and is used in case of male sterility or reduced sperm vitality: in practice, the spermatozoa are introduced into the woman's body to facilitate the encounter with the oocyte.

For who. It is indicated, for example, when there is a problem during the passage of spermatozoa in the cervical mucus because it allows them to be deposited directly in the uterus, or in cases of mild oligoasthenospermia (quantity, motility or shape of the spermatozoa below normal) because before insemination the seminal fluid is treated in order to improve its quality.

Insemination is also used when semen from a donor is used (but in Del Paese this is prohibited by Law 40) or as a first therapy in cases of unexplained infertility (idiopathic infertility).

Come. Sperm can be deposited in the vagina (intravaginal insemination, Ivi), in the cervical canal (intracervical insemination, Here it is), in the fallopian tubes (intratubal insemination, I) or in the abdomen (intraperitoneal insemination, floss). But the most used technique provides that they are introduced by means of a catheter into the uterine cavity (intrauterine insemination, IUI). Before insemination there is ultrasound monitoring of ovulation, possibly preceded by a ban on ovulation stimulation hormone treatment.

When. Insemination is carried out after the administration of a hormone, chorionic gonadotropin (Hcg) or even LH: ovulation occurs about 36 hours after the injection, so the right time for surgery can be calculated. A few hours before insemination the man must provide a sample of semen (you can also collect it at home, in a sterile urine container, provided you deliver it to the medical center within 45 minutes) which undergoes a treatment (capacitation), to select the most mobile and morphologically normal spermatozoa.

After. In the following days, the woman may be prescribed hormone therapy to help implant the embryo. Success rates vary greatly based on the number of follicles that develop and the quality of the seed. It is generally recommended to switch to another technique after 4 failed Iui attempts.

Would you like to know more? Look all medically assisted procreation techniques