Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
When should it be done? of Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination is carried out when the woman is most likely to ovulate. Ovulation is when an egg is released during the menstrual cycle. This is your most fertile time of the month. It usually occurs 14 days before the start of your period and is easier to detect if your periods are regular.
Ovulation can also be detected by a half-degree drop in body temperature, and a change in vaginal discharge. However, blood or urine hormone tests, or ultrasound scans, are usually carried out to accurately calculate the most suitable time for insemination. This improves the chance of the treatment leading to conception.
Artificial insemination can also be performed in a stimulated menstrual cycle. Hormone drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg. Sometimes this is combined with the woman’s natural cycle to increase the chance of conception.
The procedure is the same if donor sperm is used.
Some clinics in the UK offer artificial insemination treatment using donor sperm to single women and lesbian couples. However, at present, clinics are also required to consider the need of a child to have a father figure under a clause in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990.
