An Intra Uterine Insemination is a type of artificial insemination in which sperm is injected directly into your uterine cavity near the time of ovulation. This procedure can be performed either with your partner’s sperm or with sperm from a donor

Intra Uterine Insemination is most commonly used in following scenarios :

• Issues with ejaculation or erection.
• Couple wanting to avoid passing on a genetic defect from the male partner to the child.
• Low sperm count.
• Decreased sperm motility.
• Unexplained infertility.

Generally, Intra Uterine Insemination does two things :

• Medication taken before the injection help stimulate the growth of eggs, making a woman more fertile than she would be without the medication.

• Then, via the injection, the sperm is placed inside the uterine cavity, avoiding having to swim through the cervical opening and into the uterus on its own, allowing it to meet the egg more easily.

In this male partner will be asked to provide semen sample about an hour or two before being seduced  for insemination.The complete procedure takes only a few minutes.

Following are the steps which are followed :

While lying on an exam table, you put your legs into stirrups. Your care provider or Doctor inserts a speculum into the vagina — similar to what you experience during a Pap test. During the procedure, the doctor or nurse:

• Adds buffer media into vagina.
• Attaches a vial containing a sample of healthy sperm to the end of a long, thin, flexible tube (catheter).
• Inserts the catheter into the vagina, through the cervical opening and into the uterus.
• Pushes the sperm sample through the tube into the uterus.
• Removes the catheter, followed by the speculum.
  
  After insemination, you lie on your back for a brief period. Once the procedure is over, you can get dressed and go about your usual daily activities. You may have some light spotting for a day or two after the procedure.
  
  Disclaimer : This article is only written for educational purposes for the general audience.