Artificial Intrauterine Insemination With Donor Sperm
Intrauterine insemination (IUI, also known as artificial insemination) with donor sperm consists of the insertion of sperm inside the uterine cavity using an appropriate catheter. It is a fertility treatment that can be carried out either in stimulated cycles (those in which the woman takes ovulation-inducing medication) or in natural unstimulated cycles.
Treatment Description
In natural unstimulated cycles, insemination is carried out between the 12th and 15th days of the menstrual cycle (where the 1st day is the one when the menstrual flow appears), and blood tests and / or ultrasounds may be necessary to help to determine when ovulation will occur.
In stimulated cycles, women are given ovulation-inducing medicines and the development of the oocytes is controlled through periodic ultrasound scans. When the oocyte reaches an appropriate level of maturation, an injection is given to help its release from the ovary. In these cases, insemination should be done 36 to 40 hours later.
Whether it is a natural cycle or a stimulated cycle, the donor sperm is treated in order to select the spermatozoa with the highest quality and capacity for fertilization.
For the intrauterine insemination procedure, the gynaecologist uses a speculum and introduces into the uterus a catheter (small and flexible tube) loaded with previously selected and treated spermatozoa, being the sperm thawed on the same day.
It is a quick process and after the insemination the woman has to rest for a short time. Shortly after, she will be able to resume her normal life.
