Artificial insemination

What is artificial insemination?

Consists of transferring to a woman’s uterus a semen sample which has been previously prepared in a laboratory.

This shortens the distance between the egg and the spermatozoid, thus making it easier for them to meet and, therefore, facilitating egg fertilisation.

When is Artificial Insemination indicated?

For this treatment it is necessary that the woman’s fallopian tubes are not obstructed and that the male’s semen has an adequate amount of mobile sperm.

Artificial insemination is indicated in the following cases:

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Sterility of unknown origin.

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Slight alterations in the semenogram.

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Mild endometriosis.

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Ovulatory disorders.

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Dificulties during intercourse (vaginismus).

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Alterations in the level of the cervix.

At Clínica Fertia we carry out an extensive and personalised evaluation of each case, taking into account factors such as the woman’s age, her ovarian reserve and the length of time of the couple’s sterility.

Technique

Normally, a single egg is produced in a woman’s natural cycle. Ovarian stimulation consists of administering hormones by subcutaneous injection to obtain more eggs. The entire process is monitored by a series of ultrasound scans, for which our specialists are available seven days a week to do. Depending on the type of protocol used and the rapid response of the ovary, the duration of this process will vary between 10 and 12 days.

Once the follicles reach the appropriate size and number, a hormone called HCG is administered to complete the maturation of the eggs. Approximately 36 hours after administering the HCG, the mature eggs can be aspirated from the ovary.

This process is carried out in our andrology laboratory and it consists in selecting the spermatozoids with the greatest mobility, eliminating immobile, slow or dead spermatozoids, thus improving the fertilising capacity of the semen sample for artificial insemination.

For the selection of the best spermatozoids, another technique called MACS, can also be used, which enables immunomagnetic selection of the spermatozoids with the greatest capacity to fertilise the ovum.

Two hours before the insemination procedure, a semen sample has to be given for its preparation in the laboratory.
The insemination procedure is carried out in the clinic by placing a speculum inside the vagina and inserting a cannula through the cervix, depositing the spermatozoids inside the uterine cavity.

This procedure is not painful, producing the same kind of discomfort as a general smear test, it only takes a few minutes and no sedation is necessary.

Artificial insemination with donor semen

Artificial insemination with donor semen is indicated for couples with serious or irreversible semen disorders, couples in which there is a serious risk that the man could transmit an illness to his children or for women without a male partner who wish to have children.

At Clinica Fertia we work with the main semen banks in our country, thus enabling us to select the donor sample that best matches the physical characteristics of the women and her partner (race, eye and hair colour, stature, weight and blood group).

Frequently asked questions about reproduction treatments

If you would like more information about our treatments, we are always available to help and answer any of your questions.

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How long do I have to wait to start treatment?

If the evaluation is successful, treatment can be started immediately. Treatment can be scheduled for the month that best suits the couple. In the case of egg recipients, the waiting time is usually one or two months.

How many attempts can I make?

In the case of artificial insemination, here at the clinic we recommend a maximum of four attempts, since 90% of pregnancies occur in the first four cycles.
Regarding In-vitro fertilisation or microinjection, our clinic never makes more than four attempts using these techniques.
In the case of egg donation, it is more difficult to establish a limit, this will normally be determined by psychological and also economic factors.

Can you use these techniques when you have already entered menopause?

Yes. Nowadays, it is possible to become a mother after entering menopause, either physiological due to ovarian failure, or after treatment of neoplastic diseases.
In these cases, the reception of eggs from a donor must be used.

What are the biggest concerns of egg or sperm recipient couples?

Anonymity is what worries most couples and, at Clínica Fertia, this is absolutely always guaranteed. Although a patient accepts to undergo the treatment, they do want the upmost discretion.
Another factor that concerns a couple is the health of the donors and the physical resemblance to them.
In our centre, both in the case of sperm donors and egg donors, our goal is to seek that the physical resemblance is as similar as possible to the parents.

Are these treatments expensive?

For a couple with fertility problems to achieve a pregnancy it can cost between 800 and 6,000 euros, if an assisted reproduction technique is used. Although the price not only depends on the technique used, but also on the frequency of its application.
Clínica Fertia is a pioneer in maintaining an honest and transparent policy. Since 2002 we have published the information of the cost of our treatments on our website.

Check out our prices list

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