Insemination Procedures

What To Expect

These techniques are done on an outpatient basis and require only a short recovery time. You may feel cramping during the procedure, especially if sperm are inserted into your uterus. You may be told to avoid strenuous activities for the rest of the day.

Why It Is Done

Insemination procedures may be done if:

• Tests have shown no cause for infertility (unexplained infertility).
• Infertility is caused by retrograde ejaculation. This means semen and sperm are released into the urinary bladder instead of out of the penis.
• There aren't enough sperm in the semen, or they're poor quality. In this case, your doctor may recommend that you try ICSI. ICSI stands for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
• There is a problem with the cervix, such as from prior surgery, that prevents sperm from traveling through it.
• Someone who's single wants to get pregnant. Or an LGBTQ+ couple wants to start a family.

How Well It Works

Treatment success is strongly influenced by age. This is because an aging egg supply decreases pregnancy rate, and miscarriage risk increases with age.

For people with unexplained infertility, intrauterine insemination can improve the chances of becoming pregnant when combined with superovulation treatment.

Risks

Insemination combined with superovulation increases the risk of multiple pregnancy (conceiving more than one fetus). Multiple pregnancy is high-risk for mother and fetuses.

Insemination procedures pose a slight risk of infection.

Some people have severe cramping during insemination.

There is a slight risk of puncturing the uterus during intrauterine insemination.

There is a slight risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome if superovulation is used together with insemination.

There may be a higher risk of birth defects for babies conceived by certain assisted reproductive techniques. Talk with your doctor about these possible risks.