Artificial insemination - What you need to know

Posted by Doctor Nguyen Thi Man - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Danang International Hospital

Currently, the rate of infertility in the world is increasing, in Vietnam, about 7-10% of couples of reproductive age have infertility problems (corresponding to about 1 million couples). There are many causes of infertility, some of which can be corrected by artificial insemination to help get pregnant.

Artificial insemination, also known as Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI) is a method of inserting washed sperm into a woman's uterus at the time of ovulation, creating the most favorable conditions for fertilization.
Before going to major medical centers for IVF, simple to implement artificial insemination method can treat some causes of infertility as follows
Mild, moderate endometriosis Ovulation disorders (irregular periods) Cervical factor abnormalities: cervical mucus is not favorable, there may be too little cervical mucus or there is scarring in the cervix. Abnormalities in ejaculation: low urinary opening, retrograde ejaculation Husband has infertility: low sperm count, poor sperm motility, malformed sperm. Immunological: anti-sperm antibodies in men (autoantibodies) or anti-sperm antibodies in women in the cervix, serum, semen allergy. Or for cases where the cause of infertility is unknown, the doctor can perform artificial insemination for 3-6 cycles to increase the possibility of conception.
However, artificial insemination is only possible when the wife has at least 1 of the 2 fallopian tubes and ovaries are still functioning and the husband's semen is normal or mildly or moderately abnormal. Sperm samples after washing must reach at least 1 million motile sperm/1 ml.

Sperm after washing is concentrated, has good mobility and higher fertilization ability
When pumped, it will put washed sperm straight into the uterine cavity, passing through the fallopian tube to fertilize an egg , overcoming infertility due to abnormalities in the woman's vagina and cervix

The procedure for injecting sperm into the uterus at Vinmec International General Hospital is carried out as follows:
Examination, documentation and necessary tests at the Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic After a definitive diagnosis is made Determining the cause of infertility and having an indication to perform the method of sperm injection into the uterus, the patient will be scheduled to come for treatment. is taking ovarian stimulation drugs (The first day of menstruation is counted as the first day). The patient will be given an ovarian stimulant orally or by injection depending on the patient's condition and under the doctor's order.... Need to inject or drink according to the doctor's order. Ultrasound monitoring of follicles and drug dose adjustment. Ovulation (HCG) injection when the follicle is mature Sperm injection is performed 36 hours after HCG injection On the day of the injection appointment, the couple will be at the Hospital about 2 hours before, the husband will be instructed to ejaculate. sperm, then collect the husband's sperm to filter and wash, prepare to pump sperm. After sperm washing, the wife will be prepared in a gynecological examination position to pump washed sperm into the uterus. You will then be instructed:
luteal support drugs Pregnancy test after insemination 14 days Ultrasound 2 weeks after pregnancy test Positive

Currently, the success rate of intrauterine insemination in some hospitals is about 20%. This ratio decreases if the wife is older. If the wife is over 35 years old, the success rate is much reduced, the success rate is even lower if the wife is over 40 years old. The average pregnancy rate in the world today and in Vietnam is about 15%-20%.
Although it is a simple method, it can be done in many medical facilities, but still, there can be abnormal problems with the following occurrence rates:
Ovarian hyperstimulation during stimulation 5 – 10 % Hyperstimulation during pregnancy 5 – 10 % Having more than 1 pregnancy 15 – 20% Ectopic pregnancy during pregnancy 3 % Miscarriage during pregnancy 20 – 25% Preterm birth 20% Premature ovulation when inducing ovulation eggs 1% Ovaries respond poorly, stop treatment 10-15% Insemination shock Rare These are objective problems that often occur in infertility treatment centers around the world. Depending on the situation of the couple, the treating doctor gives more specific advice.

Vinmec IVF Reproductive Center is the address of infertility - infertility treatment chosen by many couples. So far, the Center has performed fertility support for over 1000 infertile couples with a success rate of 45%-50%. This rate is equivalent to developed countries such as the UK, USA, Australia,...
The center gathers a team of leading experts in the field of obstetrics and gynecology nationally and internationally, trained in centers leading in the world such as in the US, Singapore, Japan, Australia and famous fertility centers in the world.
With a high level of expertise and extensive experience, Vinmec IVF Center's experts are capable of synchronously and comprehensively deploying the most advanced assisted reproductive techniques today, helping realize the dream of becoming a parent of hundreds of families across Vietnam.
To learn about assisted reproductive methods at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register for an online examination HERE.