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What to expect in artificial insemination
Your doctor will use ovulation kits, ultrasound, or blood tests to make sure you are ovulating when you undergo artificial insemination.
When you are ovulating, your partner will be asked to produce a sample of semen. The doctor will suggest that your partner abstain from sex for two to five days in advance to ensure a higher sperm count. If you live close to the clinic, your partner may be able to collect the semen at home by masturbating. Otherwise, the clinic will provide a private room for this purpose. The sperm must be "washed" in a laboratory within one hour of ejaculation.
The process of "washing" the sperm enhances the chance of fertilization and removes chemicals in the semen that may cause discomfort for the woman. It consists of liquifying the sperm at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then a harmless chemical is added to separate out the most active sperm. Then a centrifuge is used to collect the best sperm.
The sperm are then placed in a thin tube called a catheter and introduced through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. Artificial insemination is a short, relatively painless procedure that many women describe as being similar to a Pap smear. Some women have cramping during the procedure and light bleeding afterward. Immediately after the procedure your doctor will probably have you lie down for about 15 to 45 minutes to give the sperm a chance to get to work. After that, you can resume your usual activities.
In some cases, your doctor will have you on fertility drugs -- such as Clomid -- to induce superovulation (ovulation of multiple eggs) before having artificial insemination.
Success rates for the procedure vary. Factors that lessen your chance of success include:
Older age of the woman
Poor egg quality
Poor sperm quality
Severe endometriosis
Severe damage to fallopian tubes (usually from chronic infection)
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