Artificial Insemination
Artificial Insemination
Artificial Insemination
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves a laboratory procedure to separate fast moving sperm from more sluggish or non-moving sperm. The fast moving sperm are then placed into the woman s womb close to the time of ovulation when the egg is released from the ovary in the middle of the monthly cycle.
The sperm are inserted 36 to 40 hours later. To do this, the doctor first inserts a speculum (a special instrument that keeps your vaginal walls apart) into your vagina (as for a cervical smear test). A small catheter (a soft, flexible tube) is then threaded into your womb via your cervix. The best quality sperm are selected and inserted through the catheter. The whole process takes just a few minutes and is usually a painless procedure but some women may experience a temporary, menstruallike cramping.
The main difference from IVF is that with GIFT the gametes (eggs and sperm) are immediately transferred to the woman's fallopian tubes, so fertilization occurs inside, not outside, the woman's body. The embryo can begin its earliest development in natural surroundings rather than in an artificial environment.
In general, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is preferable for couples with male factor infertility. GIFT is commonly chosen by couples who have failed to conceive after trying at least one year and who have failed five to six cycles of ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination.
The main difference between ZIFT and GIFT is that ZIFT transfers a fertilized egg directly into the fallopian tubes while GIFT utilizes a mixture of sperm and eggs.