subject: Intracervical Insemination - Pregnancy Procedure Information [print this page] Artificial insemination is a procedure where sperm are placed directly into the reproductive tract. This means that the sperm may be placed with in the cervix, uterus, fallopian tube, or ovarian follicle. A more specific artificial insemination procedure is called intracervical insemination, or ICI, the purpose of this is to place the sperm directly into the cervix.
Intracervial insemination is useful for those women who do not ovulate regularly. The process is relatively simple and takes about five minutes. The woman lies flat on her back with her feet in the stirrups, and a nurse or the doctor opens the vagina with the speculum. At this time a small tube is place into the cervix and the sperm are placed in to the tube. When the sperm are securely placed in to the cervix, a sponge may be put in place to ensure they stay up, rather than floating down and out. This sponge may be removed in about six hours.
While the actual procedure takes only five minutes, there is some preparation to do before hand. The woman is usually given fertility drugs, and monitored closely to anticipate ovulation. When the leading follicle is 18mms or more, and the endometrial lining is well developed, the doctor will administer a dose of HCG. After the doctor has administered this dose of HCG, he or she will proceed with the insemination in roughly 36 to 44 hours.
Remember, this procedure places sperm in the cervix. Therefore, it is beneficial to those women who do not have a hostile mucus problem. If the woman does present with hostile cervical mucus, that kills or paralyzes the sperm, than the doctor will most likely opt to perform the more expensive procedure, which is intrauterine insemination. Your doctor should do test before hand, to test your cervical mucus.
