When is Donor Insemination Needed?
The Evaluation
The Insemination Procedure
Donor insemination may be recommended if there are significantly abnormal semen characteristics and if the female appears to be fertile after a series of tests. Causes for male infertility may include irreversible azoospermia (when the male has no sperm), a previous vasectomy, previous radiation or chemotherapy treatment, or an irreversible male fertility factor.
Additional conditions that may require TDI for pregnancy are when the husband or wife or both are carriers of a known hereditary or generic disorder, such as Tay-Sachs Disease, hemophelia, or chromosomal abnormalities. It may also be used if the female has a negative Rh factor and is severely Rh immunized and the male is Rh positive. Additionally, single women who desire pregnancy may request donor insemination.
The Evaluation
The female examination includes a pelvic exam and tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV, rubella, and other sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to determine the time of ovulation with LH surge kits, bascal body temperature (BBT) charts, and in some cases, cervical mucus examinations. Before you undergo the insemination procedure, our doctors may recommend a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), hysteroscopy, or endometrial biopsy may be recommended to determine whether or not there is adequate hormone production.
The procedure itself is relatively simple and only takes a few minutes to perform. The female lies on an examining table. The physician or nurse then inserts a speculum into the vagina and injects the sperm. A plastic-coated sponge or cap may be placed into the vagina before the speculum is removed. This keeps the sperm near the cervix and can be taken out four to six hours after the insemination.
During intracervical insemination (ICI), the semen may simply be injected into the cervical opening through a plastic tube. Another method, intrauterine insemination (IUI), involves inserting washed sperm directly into the uterine cavity. This method may be used for several reasons, including poor sperm/cervical mucus interaction, unexplained infertility and antisperm antibodies. IUI allows the sperm to bypass the cervix so that an increased number can reach the uterine cavity and subsequently the fallopian tubes.
If the feamle has irregular ovulation, you may be prescribed drugs to induce ovulation. IUI may be performed in conjunction with these medications to increas the chances of successful fertilization.
In order to decide whether to undergo donor insemination, it is important to find out the reason for your infertility and your chances of pregnancy without TDI. Our staff will take a detailed medical history from all involved parties. The male will need a complete examination, including a semen analysis and possibly other tests for sperm autoimmunity and sperm function. Tests for human immune deficiency (HIV), hepatitis B and C, and other sexually transmitted diseases are also recommended to prevent future medical problems.
The Insemination Procedure
Inseminations are timed to occur around ovulation and are usually performed once or twice each month depending on the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
