Artificial insemination is a treatment for infertility that involves directly inserting sperm into a woman’s womb.
When is artificial insemination used?
Artificial insemination can be useful in helping couples to conceive in any of the following situations:
- there is a problem with the man’s sperm, or he cannot produce sperm during sexual intercourse
- there is no obvious reason why the couple can not conceive a child (unexplained infertility)
- the woman has minimal to mild endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where cells that are usually only found in the lining of the uterus (womb) begin to grow in other parts of the reproductive system, which can be a cause of infertility.
Women in same-sex partnerships have also used artificial insemination as a way of conceiving a child.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Different techniques can be used to carry out artificial insemination. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the most widely used technique and has a good success record.
In IUI, a man will provide a sample of sperm which is then "washed" and filtered using special techniques. This ensures that only the most potent, high-quality sperm is used for the procedure.
During the procedure, the concentrated sperm is passed directly into the woman’s womb (uterus) through a tube called a catheter.
Sperm donation
In some circumstances, the man may not be able to produce any healthy sperm. If this is the case, frozen sperm, obtained from a donor, can be used.
Some couples have chosen to obtain donated sperm from somebody they know, a relative or a friend. In the majority of cases, sperm is taken from an anonymous donation.
Donor anonymity
In the past, sperm donors remained anonymous, from the parents and the child produced by the donated sperm. In 2005, the law regarding donor anonymity changed.
Any person who is born from donated sperm after April 1 2005 is entitled to apply to the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to obtain information about the identity of the donor, once they have reached 18 years of age.
The HFEA is responsible for regulating all fertility clinics in the UK.
Artificial insemination on the NHS
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that up to six courses (or cycles) of IUI treatment should be offered to couples free of charge on the NHS if:
- the man’s sperm count is abnormal
- the woman has minimal to mild endometriosis or
- the couple have unexplained fertility problems
Fertility treatment that is funded by the NHS currently varies across the UK. In some areas, the waiting lists for treatment can be very long. The criteria that you must meet in order to be eligible for treatment can also vary, and in some cases it may depend on what is available from your local Health Board.
IUI is also available from private fertility clinics. Costs can vary from £500 to £1,000 for each cycle of treatment.
The term cycle is used to refer to one course of IUI treatment. As each course is timed to coincide with the woman’s natural reproductive cycle, you will only be able to receive one cycle of IUI treatment a month.
Womb
The uterus (also known as the womb) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman where a baby grows during pregnancy.
Cervix
The cervix is at the lower end of the womb. It connects the womb with the vagina.
Fallopian tubes
Fallopian tubes (also called oviducts or uterine tubes) are the two tubes that connect the uterus to the ovaries in the female reproductive system.
Ovaries
Ovaries are the pair of reproductive organs that produce eggs and sex hormones in females.
Donor
A donor is a person (living or dead) who donates blood, an organ or other body parts to another person in need.