Artificial insemination
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225811714
2008-07-15T14:52:52Z
216.16.29.42
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:''AIH redirects here. For the indie rock band abbreviated AIH, see [[Architecture in Helsinki]]''
'''Artificial insemination''' (AI) is the process by which [[spermatozoon|sperm]] is placed into a female's vagina (specifically, into the [[cervix]] (intracervical insemination) (ICI)) or into the female's [[uterus]] (intrauterine insemination) (IUI) for the purpose of impregnating the female by using artificial means, rather than by sexual intercourse.
Modern techniques for artificial [[insemination]] were first developed for the dairy cattle industry to allow many cows to be impregnated with the sperm of a bull with traits for improved milk production.
==Human artificial insemination ==
In humans artificial insemination is used as [[assisted reproductive technology]] primarily to treat [[infertility]] but is increasingly used to enable women without a male partner (i.e. single women and [[lesbians]]) to become pregnant and to produce children by using sperm provided by a [[sperm donor]]. The woman is the genetic and gestational mother of the child, and the sperm donor is the genetic or biological father of the child.
===Preparations===
A sperm sample will be provided by the male partner of the woman undergoing artificial insemination, but sperm provided through [[sperm donation]] by a [[sperm donor]] may be used if, for example, the woman's partner produces too few motile sperm, if he carries a genetic disorder, or if the woman has no male partner. Sperm is usually obtained through masturbation or the use of an electrical stimulator, although a special [[condom]] may be used to collect the semen during intercourse.
The man providing the sperm is usually advised not to ejaculate for two to three days before providing the sample in order to increase the sperm count.
A woman's menstrual cycle is closely observed, by tracking basal body temperature (BBT) and changes in vaginal mucous, or using ovulation kits, ultrasounds or blood tests.
When using intra-uterine insemination (IUI), the sperm must immediately be “[[sperm washing|washed]]” in a laboratory, after which a chemical is added to the sample. The process of “washing” the sperm increases the chances of fertilization and removes any chemicals in the semen that may cause discomfort for the woman.
If sperm is provided by a sperm donor through a [[sperm bank]], it will be frozen and quarantined for a particular period and the donor will be tested before and after production of the sample to ensure that he does not carry a transmissable disease. Sperm samples donated in this way are produced through masturbation by the sperm donor at the [[sperm bank]]. A chemical known as a cryoprotectant is added to the sperm to aid the freezing and thawing process. Further chemicals may be added which separate the most active sperm in the sample as well as extending or diluting the sample so that vials for a number of inseminations are produced.
===Procedure===
When an ovum is released, sperm provided by the woman's male partner or by a [[sperm donor]] is inserted into the female's vagina or uterus. Semen is occasionally inserted twice within a 'treatment cycle'. If the procedure is successful, the woman will conceive and carry to term a baby. A pregnancy resulting from artificial insemination is no different from any other pregnancy.
===Variations===
[[Artificial insemination]] has several variations both regarding the donor of the sperm and the techniques used.
====Donor variations====
Either sperm provided by the woman's husband ('''artificial insemination by husband''', AIH) or sperm provided by a known or anonymous [[sperm donor]] ('''artificial insemination by donor''', AID or DI) can be used.
Earlier, a popular form of artificial insemination was AIC, in which the sperm of the husband and a donor were mixed. The advantage of this stated that the husband was not the biological father of the child.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} This was important in an age where artificial insemination was considered to be immoral and tantamount to adultery, with the resulting child being considered as illegitimate and having no inheritance rights.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} The popularity of AIC has reduced to almost nil for a number of reasons, including advances in genetic testing which make it fairly easy to identify the genetic father with a blood test, the advance of medical treatments for male infertility (such as [[Intracytoplasmic_sperm_injection|ICSI]]), and the declining stigma of assisted reproductive technologies in general.
====Techniques====
The easiest way to inseminate is by '''intracervical insemination (ICI)''', where semen is injected high into the [[cervix]] with a needle-less syringe. This process most closely replicates the way in which semen is deposited by the penis in the cervix or fornix when the male ejaculates during vaginal intercourse. However, more technical procedures may be used which increase the chances of conception. For example, 'washed sperm', that is, spermatozoa which have been removed from most other components of the seminal fluids, can be injected directly into a woman's [[uterus]] in a process called '''intrauterine insemination (IUI)'''. If the semen is not washed it may elicit uterine cramping, expelling the semen and causing pain, due to content of [[prostaglandin]]s. (Prostaglandins are also the compounds responsible for causing the myometrium to contract and expel the menses from the uterus, during [[menstruation]].)
IUI can furthermore be combined with '''intratubal insemination (ITI)''', into the [[Fallopian tube]] although this procedure is no longer generally regarded as having any beneficial effect compared with IUI<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8425628&dopt=AbstractPlus Comparison of intracervical, intrauterine, and intratubal techniques for donor insemination. Hurd WW, Randolph JF Jr, Ansbacher R, Menge AC, Ohl DA, Brown AN.]</ref> ITI however, should not be confused with [[gamete intrafallopian transfer]], where both eggs and sperm are mixed outside the woman's body and then immediately inserted into the Fallopian tube where fertilization takes place. See also [[in vitro fertilisation]] (IVF) techniques which may involve the use of partner or donor sperm.
===Success rates===
Success rates for artificial insemination may be very misleading, since many factors including the age and health of the recipient have to be included to give a meaningful answer, e.g. definition of success and calculation of the total population.<ref> [http://www.ivf.com//success.html IVF.com]</ref>
Generally, it is 10 to 15% per cycle using ICI, and <ref name=utrecht> [http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/medicine/infertility-faq/part4.html Utrecht CS News] Subject: Infertility FAQ (part 4/4)</ref> and 15-20% per cycle for IUI.<ref name=utrecht/>
===Controversy===
Artificial insemination has become a significant issue in recent years, particularly in debates revolving around same sex parenting, single mother parenting and '''[[surrogate mother|surrogate parenting]]'''. Legal issues have arisen in cases where the gestational (and possibly genetic) mother decides to keep the child. Likewise, there have been debates over the rights and obligations of sperm donors.
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==Artificial insemination in livestock and pets==
Main Article: [[List of animals that been Artificially inseminated]]
[[Image:Horse breeding dummy.jpg|right|thumb|An [[artificial vagina]] used to [[semen collection|collect semen]] from horses for use in artificial insemination]]
Artificial insemination is used in animals to propagate desirable characteristics of one male to many females or overcome breeding problems, particularly in the cases of [[horse]]s, [[cow|cattle]], [[pigs]], [[Pedigree (animal)|pedigree]] [[dog]]s, and [[Western honey bee|honeybees]]. Semen is collected, extended, then cooled or frozen. It can be used on site or shipped to the female's location. The small plastic tube holding the frozen semen is referred to as a "straw". To allow the sperm to remain viable during the time before and after it is frozen, the semen is mixed with a solution containing glycerol or other cryoprotectants. An "extender" is a solution that allows the semen from a donor to impregnate more females by making insemination possible with fewer sperm. Antibiotics, such as streptomycin, are sometimes added to the sperm to control some venereal diseases.
Artificial insemination of farm animals is very common in today's agriculture industry in the developed world, especially for breeding dairy cattle (75% of all inseminations) and swine (up to 85% of all inseminations). It provides an economical means for a livestock grower to breed their herds with males having very desirable traits.
Although common with cattle and swine, AI is seldom practised in the breeding of horses. Most equine associations and race tracks in North America only accept horses that have been conceived under "natural cover", or actual physical mating between a [[mare]] and a [[stallion]]. All [[Thoroughbred]] bloodstock ([[race horses]]), are conceived naturally, no AI is allowed in Thoroughbred breeding.<ref>[http://www.darleyflyingstart.com/2006/work/july07_sun_pathak.shtml The Jockey Club has never allowed artificial insemination.]</ref>
== See also ==
*[[In vitro fertilisation|''In vitro'' fertilisation]]
*[[Embryo transfer]]
*[[Ex-situ conservation]]
*[[Wildlife]]
*[[Intracytoplasmic sperm injection]]
*[[Sperm bank]]
*[[Sperm donation]]
*[[Donor conceived people]]
*[[Surrogacy]]
*[[Frozen zoo]]
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
*[[John Hammond (physiologist)|Hammond, John]], ''et al.'', ''The Artificial Insemination of Cattle'' (Cambridge, Heffer, 1947, 61pp)
==External links==
*[http://www.asas.org/symposia/esupp2/Footehist.pdf A history of artificial insemination]
*[http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/eng/main/index.html first association in the world to success in dolphin artificial insemination]
*[http://www.stanford.edu/class/siw198q/websites/reprotech/New%20Ways%20of%20Making%20Babies/spermeth.htm What are the Ethical Considerations for Sperm Donation?]
*[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=spermdonor07&date=20040507 United States state court rules sperm donor is not liable for children]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4397249.stm UK Sperm Donors Lose Anonymity]
*[http://www.fertilitystories.com/spermdonor.htm Personal accounts of artificial insemination, including those of women born by donor conception]
[[Category:Fertility medicine]]
[[Category:Reproduction]]
[[Category:Livestock]]
[[Category:Pets]]
[[Category:Cryobiology]]
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