Artificial insemination methods at a glance
With the methods of artificial insemination, the egg is to be artificially fertilized with the sperm of the partner or foreign sperm. Find out here how the methods of artificial insemination differ and how insemination, in vitro fertilization and other medical variants are handled.
In artificial insemination, an egg is artificially fertilized with the sperm of the partner or foreign sperm. There are two main approaches: insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, there are other variants in the procedure, which we would also like to briefly introduce: the ICSI, GIFT and ZIFT.
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ToggleInsemination
The most common method of artificial insemination used is sperm transfer or insemination. It is mainly used for low fertility of the male semen. During insemination, the man’s sperm are transported through a catheter into the uterus, cervix or fallopian tube to increase the likelihood of fertilization. Insemination takes place at the time of conception optimum. Therefore, the treating gynecologist determines the time of ovulation together with the woman beforehand. Often, ovulation is artificially induced by the administration of drugs. Learn more about insemination in our article “Insemination: How does semen transfer work?”.
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization means “fertilization in a glass”. This includes all assisted reproduction procedures in which the union of egg and sperm takes place outside the woman’s body in order to transfer the resulting embryos into the uterus. Babies created in this way are colloquially referred to as test-tube babies. Classic IVF works as follows:
- First, an examination for hereditary diseases is made.
- Then the woman is treated hormonally to slow down egg production in the ovaries. Only then can several eggs mature at once.
- Hormone treatment first stimulates egg maturation over several days and then triggers ovulation.
- After hormone treatment, the eggs are punctured from the woman’s body and brought together with the man’s sperm in a vessel. This is the actual process of fertilization. It can be performed according to classical IVF or according to the methods of ICSI, TESE-ICSI or MESA-ICSI described below.
- Ideally, the sperm fertilize the eggs and embryos develop.
- From the second to fifth day after fertilization, several embryos, usually two in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, are implanted in the uterus.
- If at least one embryo is not rejected by the body, chances are good that IVF can fulfill the desire to have a baby.
In our article “In vitro fertilization (IVF)” you will find more information about the decision and preparation of an in vitro fertilization.
Special form IVF: intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
A special form of IVF is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It is performed if sperm quality is too poor (lack of motility, low sperm count or sperm antibodies). In this method, sperm are first obtained from the man’s seminal fluid directly from the ejaculate (ICSI) or by a biopsy of the testicles (TESE-ICSI) or epididymis (MESA-ICSI). The rest of the process of in vitro fertilization is carried out exactly the same. In our article “Procedure, opportunities and risks of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)” you will learn more about ICSI treatment.
GIFT and ZIFT
GIFT (Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer) is a form of artificial insemination in which fertilization itself takes place in the woman’s body. In GIFT, the punctured eggs are implanted together with the male sperm via the abdominal cavity into the fallopian tube or flushed into the fallopian tube with a catheter. This method is used when in vitro fertilization has been unsuccessful. A variation of this is the ZIFT (intratubular cytogote transfer), in which the egg cell fertilized in the test tube is implanted. In principle, the ZIFT is a form of in vitro fertilization.
More information about artificial insemination
Learn more about thecosts, chances of successandrisksand many other questions about fertility treatment in ourArtificial Insemination section.