Expert Answer: The Benefits of Artificial Insemination - Baby Center

In the modern world, childless couples have the opportunity to become parents with the help of assisted reproductive technologies. The use of such methods is recommended when a woman is able to bear a child, but cannot become pregnant naturally. Let’s talk about this in more detail.

When is artificial insemination used?

This procedure is used in cases of female and male infertility for the following reasons:

• Various forms of male infertility.
• Complete obstruction of the fallopian tubes, as well as their absence in a woman due to surgery.
• Idiopathic infertility, the cause of which is unknown.
• Endometriosis, the treatment of which did not lead to pregnancy.
• Immunological cause of infertility.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome without the effect of conservative and surgical treatment.

Types and benefits

Artificial insemination (AI)

This is a medical technique in which male sperm, previously collected outside of sexual intercourse, is injected into the cervix or uterus of a woman. Artificial insemination (AI) is carried out with the husband’s sperm – IISM or donor sperm – IISD.

Pros:

• No serious stress for the female body;
• Relatively easy to implement;
• As close as possible to the natural process of conception;
• Does not require significant hormonal stimulation;
• Low cost of the procedure.

Eco (In vitro fertilization)

In IVF, the egg is removed from the female body and fertilized “in vitro”. The resulting embryo is stored in an incubator, develops there for 2-6 days, and then transferred to the uterine cavity for further development.

Pros:

• The ability to conceive a child with any form of infertility;
• It is possible to use not only donor sperm, but also a donor egg;
• Much more efficient than AI;
• Possibility to check the embryo for genetic diseases and viruses before it is placed in the uterus. The quality of the resulting embryos is assessed. For transplantation, the one with the normal number of chromosomes is selected.

Summing up

If a woman has no fertility problems and has to choose between IVF and artificial insemination, it makes sense to use AI. If a woman has very little chance of conceiving with the help of AI, her doctor will notify her. In this case, it is worth resorting to a more complex, expensive and effective method.