Procreatec

Artificial insemination is used when there is a slight motility problem, when the sperm count is a little low, if the cause of infertility is due to a cervical factor, in cases of ovulation problems and when the infertility is unexplained. It is important to choose the patients that undergo artificial insemination carefully. Women over 38 achieve very low pregnancy rates.

It can be performed with the partner´s sperm or donor sperm if necessary. The success rate is approximately 10-15% in the first cycle, increasing as more cycles are performed. In a group of women under 38, pregnancy is achieved in 25-30% of the patients after 4 cycles.

The process consists of 3 phases:

1. The process starts with ovulation induction. Medication is administered that helps the ovaries mature one or more eggs. When one or two follicles measure 17 mm or more an hCG shot is prescribed and insemination is performed 36 hours later.

2. The day of the insemination the man brings a semen specimen to the lab a few hours before the insemination. The semen is capacitated in the lab to better the specimen.

3. In the last phase the insemination is performed. The patient lies in gynecological position and a speculum is placed in the vagina. The doctor then introduces a catheter through the cervical canal into the uterus and injects the capacitated semen into the uterus.

Risks

One of the risks of artificial insemination occurs when the patient is sensitive to the medication used for the stimulation or when the wrong dosage is used, producing hyperstimulation. In this case hCG is not administered, the cycle is cancelled and the patient is advised to use contraceptive methods. When hCG is not administered the risks that can lead to hyperstimulation are greatly reduced.

There is also the risk of multiple pregnancy. If too many developed follicles are observed during the scan that takes place after administering hCG and before insemination, the insemination is cancelled and the patient is advised to use contraceptive methods to prevent a multiple pregnancy.