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Insemination for Infertility
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the flushing of specially washed sperm through a thin flexible tube (catheter) directly into the uterus.
Artificial insemination (AI) is the placement of sperm into a woman's cervix or vagina. The sperm then travel into the uterus and fallopian tubes, where they may fertilize an egg.
See an illustration of the
female reproductive system 
.
Insemination procedures:
- Can be done with sperm from the male partner or a donor.
- Are conducted during the most fertile part of a woman's cycle (ovulation).
- Can be combined with superovulation (medication or hormone treatment that promotes multiple egg production) to increase the chances of conception.
- Do not require surgery.
Insemination procedures can improve your chances of conceiving a pregnancy, especially when combined with superovulation treatment.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: March 19, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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