Artificial insemination is non-coital (without sexual intercourse) deposition of sperms into the uterine cavity of the female to achieve conception. It is not a new concept. The first pregnancy following artificial insemination was reported way back in 1884 by Dr. Pancoast. However artificial insemination is now practiced with much more sophistication and scientific approach. The first IUI pregnancy at the Fertility Research Centre of G.G.Hospital was achieved in March 1986 with raw semen inseminated intracervically. In September 1986, IUI pregnancy was achieved using culture medium for insemination. Since then the number of inseminations done in our hospital per day has risen from 2 -3 to 15-20 and the pregnancy rate per month has risen from 1 -2% to 18- 23%. This increase is due to the improvement in our methodology and monitoring techniques.

Gynecologists who wish to practice artificial insemination should do with utmost care and sincerity as, it may result in permanent blockage of the fallopian tubes due to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Therefore no practitioner should attempt to do artificial insemination without a proper laboratory setup and a perfect sterile environment.

Indications for IUI

Common indication for both is unexplained infertility.

Female factors

•  Cervical mucus which is poor in quantity and/or quality thereby hindering the normal movement of sperms upwards to     reach the tubes.

•  Defects in the cervix like Cervical Stenosis (tight stricture)

•  Presence of Antisperm antibodies that do not respond to immuno suppression therapy.

Male factors

•  Low sperm count and motility either isolated or combined-count should preferably be greater than or equal to10 million

•  Immunological factor - Circulating and / or sperm directed antibodies in the seminal plasma.

•  Ejaculatory dysfunction-premature and retrograde ejaculation ( backward flow of semen into the urinary bladder )

At our centre we perform with utmost care and precision two methods of sperm preparation namely the Swim-up technique and the gradient separation technique. We use both the home made T6 ( whittingham's ) and commercial media.