Intrauterine insemination consists of introducing sperm that has been previously prepared in the laboratory into the woman’s uterus.

It is the most natural and least invasive assisted reproduction treatment, as fertilization takes place within the woman's own body (in the fallopian tubes) and not in the laboratory. It is especially recommended for single women or young couples with subfertility issues.

Types of Intrauterine Insemination

There are two types of artificial insemination depending on the origin of the sperm sample:

• Intrauterine insemination with partner sperm: Uses sperm from the partner.

• Intrauterine insemination with Donor Sperm: Uses sperm from a donor.

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Intrauterine insemination with partner sperm

In this type of insemination, the partner’s sperm is used to achieve pregnancy. The sperm sample is prepared in the laboratory to maximize its quality, and it is then introduced into the woman's uterus during ovulation, fertilization takes place inside the woman's body (in the fallopian tubes).

When is intrauterine insemination with partner sperm indicated?

Intrauterine insemination with partner’s sperm is indicated in the following cases:

• Inability to deposit sperm in the vagina

• Mild or moderate sperm abnormalities

• Female infertility issues such as anovulation, cervical factor, or mild endometriosis

• Unknown infertility causes

• Other causes

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Intrauterine insemination with Donor Sperm

In this case, sperm from a donor is used to achieve pregnancy because the woman does not have a partner, or her partner's sperm quality is poor.
The donor’s sperm sample is prepared in the laboratory to maximize its quality and is introduced into the woman’s uterus during ovulation. Fertilization occurs naturally in the woman’s fallopian tubes.

When is Intrauterine insemination with Donor Sperm indicated?

• Woman without a male partner

• Female couples

• Azoospermia (complete absence of sperm in semen)

• Severe reduction in sperm concentration or motility after IVF fertilization failure

• Rejection of IVF fertilization

• Certain chromosomal or genetic alterations

• Risk of transmission of other types of pathology

• Other causes

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How is the Intrauterine insemination process carried out?

The intrauterine insemination treatment begins, as all treatments do, with an initial medical consultation. This consists of two parts:

1. First visit (medical visit or video consultation):
   The doctor and patients meet and discuss their case. During this visit, the doctor will request the necessary background information and tests to provide a personalized diagnosis and treatment.

Tests for the woman:

• Hormonal analysis to assess ovarian function

• Ultrasound to check the state of the uterus

• Tests to detect infectious diseases (serology) and other necessary parameters for treatment

Tests for the man (if using partner’s sperm):

• Semen analysis (seminogram), evaluating parameters such as sperm concentration, motility, morphology, etc.

• Tests to detect infectious diseases (serology) and other necessary parameters for treatment

 

2. Signing the consent and starting the treatment:
   The doctor evaluates the tests and explains the treatment in detail. The patients ask any questions and sign the consent form to begin the treatment.
   After the first informative visit and medical tests, the Intrauterine Insemination treatment begins. It consists of 5 phases:

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Phase 1: Ovarian Stimulation Start:

This involves the daily administration of hormones for several days to stimulate the ovaries. The woman will need to visit the clinic to monitor the ovarian response through ultrasound and check hormonal levels with blood tests.

Phase 2: Ovulatory Release:

Once the ovaries are adequately stimulated to produce 1 or 2 mature eggs, another hormone is administered to induce ovulation.

Phase 3: Insemination:

After 34-36 hours, the sperm sample (from the partner or donor) is collected and prepared in the laboratory. The sample is then introduced into the woman’s uterus using a fine catheter (36-40 hours after ovulatory release).

Phase 4: Pregnancy Test:

14-15 days after insemination, a pregnancy test is done through a blood analysis (BhcG) or using a urine test.

Phase 5: Ultrasound to Confirm Heartbeat:

14 days after confirming the pregnancy test, an ultrasound is performed in the clinic to observe the heartbeat and to discharge the treatment.

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What are my chances of pregnancy?

The probability of pregnancy with intrauterus insemination is between 10-20%. The results from our center are shown below.

FAQ

Can I undergo this procedure if I am 38 years old?

It is not recommended because the quality of a woman's eggs significantly decreases at this age, and the chances of pregnancy are very low. It would be better to consider another reproductive treatment, such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Is it painful?

No, it is a quick and simple technique, not painful. It is performed in the doctor's office and does not require anesthesia. After 10 minutes of rest, you can go back to your normal life.

Can I choose or know who the sperm donor is?

You cannot choose the sperm donor. In Spain, all sperm donors are anonymous by law. However, we can ensure the maximum similarity with the recipient woman's physical characteristics.

How do I know the donor is healthy?

Sperm donors are evaluated through a physical examination, a comprehensive family study to rule out hereditary diseases, a psychological evaluation, analysis of sperm quality, lab tests to rule out infectious diseases, and a complete genetic test to detect carrier status for the most common recessive genetic disorders.

What are my chances of success?

The chances of pregnancy are between 10-20% per cycle. However, every case is unique, and many factors influence the result, such as the woman's age, sperm quality, ovarian stimulation response, the number of previous attempts, or the thickness of the endometrium. Therefore, treatment individualization is very important.

What happens if I don’t get pregnant?

You can try again, as the pregnancy rate increases with the number of attempts up to the fourth insemination. Alternatively, you may consider resorting to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

What is the difference between IntrauterineInsemination and In Vitro Fertilization?

They are two different treatments. Intrauterine insemination is more natural than IVF because fertilization occurs inside the woman’s body. In IVF fertilization takes place in the laboratory, and the embryo is then transferred to the woman’s uterus.