Artificial insemination: procedure, chances and risks

About one in six couples is involuntarily childless. Artificial insemination offers the possibility of fulfilling your desire to have a child. You can find out here what the process of artificial insemination looks like, what the chances are, and what risks you will face.

What is artificial insemination?

Basically, artificial insemination means all procedures in which a possible pregnancy is induced without sexual intercourse.

Possible reasons for infertility can be reduced sperm motility or a blocked fallopian tube. However, statutory health insurance companies only contribute to the costs of artificial insemination for married couples under certain conditions.

This is how the process of artificial insemination works

Did you know that there are different methods of artificial insemination? Which method is suitable for whom must be decided individually by your doctor. The reasons for the previous unfulfilled desire to have a child play a major role.

In addition to the different methods, hormones are administered to the woman to stimulate her fertility.

Different methods of artificial insemination

Insemination

With the insemination method, sperm is introduced into the uterus through a catheter at the time of ovulation. This method is especially recommended if your partner suffers from sperm immobility.

Before the procedure, the sperm is processed and unwanted substances are separated. The most commonly used method is homologous insemination. Here, the sperm of the patient’s own partner is used.

In heterologous or donor insemination, the procedure is performed with sperm from a sperm donor.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

In in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination takes place outside your body. The eggs are retrieved and combined with sperm in a petri dish.

To increase the chances of this method, several eggs are usually used. After about 40 to 72 hours, the eggs are inserted into the uterus with a catheter.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

In this procedure, the sperm are injected directly into the egg. This procedure is recommended when sperm quality is limited.

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE)

In this method of artificial insemination, sperm are extracted directly from the testicles and then injected into the egg as in the previous method.

Cultivation of spermatogonial stem cells

If there are no mature sperm in the seminal fluid, it is possible to take them from the testicle and cultivate them in a laboratory.

In this way, sperm can be obtained from the stem cells, which are inserted into eggs.

What are the chances of artificial insemination?

The success rate of artificial insemination is 19% on average.

The decisive factor here is the age of the woman and the man. In addition, the admittedly low average is due to the fact that many couples discontinue treatment after only a few attempts.

Artificial insemination is not only associated with high costs. This procedure also requires enormous stress. Despite all the downsides, you should stick together with your partner and possibly seek support.

What are the possible risks?

The addition of hormones can cause some side effects. Here you will find an overview of possible symptoms:

Artificial insemination can also increase the risk of miscarriage. However, the average rate is not much higher than with a naturally induced pregnancy.

Artificial insemination: A conclusion

An unfulfilled desire to have children can be very stressful. However, more couples suffer from it than you might think at first. About one in six couples is affected.

Artificial insemination can be a great way to fulfill the long-awaited wish of having your own child.

Get extensive advice from the doctor you trust and make a decision together.