Artificial Insemination (AI)

About Artificial Insemination(AI)

Artificial insemination is a simple and inexpensive medical procedure, commonly used in the treatment of infertility. AI is just one of those options that may be considered prior to attempting more involved treatments, such as IVF.It refers to the technique that involves placement of the sperm into the female reproductive tract by artificial means. In majority of the cases, the husband's sperm is used.
Advanced techniques like IVF; ICSI or donor insemination might have to be considered in some cases where the attempts are not fruitful.
The technique has also been used in animals for breeding purposes to improve productivity of milk and beef.

Indications For Artificial Insemination

Male Partner :
1.Inability to ejaculate into the vagina.
2.This can occur in a number of clinical conditions such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
3.Trauma or injury to the spinal cord following a road traffic accident.
4.Retrograde ejaculation.
5.A condition where the sperms enter the urinary bladder rather than coming down the male urethra. This can be caused due to diseases like diabetes.
6.It can also result from an operation or surgery that destroys the value that prevents the backflow of sperms into the urethra.
7.Less commonly it can be the result of some drugs used for treatment purposes.
8.Men with sperm count lower than that required for successful fertilization.
9.Men with poor quality sperms that poses difficulties with fertilization.
10.Mechanical difficulties with intercourse (Structural abnormalities of the penis owing to trauma or injury).

Types of Artificial Insemination

1.Intracervical insemination :The sperm is injected into the cervix, located at the opening of the uterus .
2. Intrauterine insemination (IUI):The sperm is injected into the uterus.
3. Intrafollicular insemination:The sperm is injected into the ovarian follicle
4. Intratubal insemination:The sperm is injected into the Fallopian tubes

The type of infertility will determine the site of injection of the sperm into the reproductive tract.