Donor Insemination
At Fertility Specialists of Houston we believe it is essential for our patients to understand what is happening to them every step of the way. We want you to maintain a feeling of control about the process. After your initial consultation our physician will be able to determine a preliminary diagnosis and make testing recommendations.
Once the initial work-up is complete and test results are reviewed, a diagnosis can be pinpointed and a treatment plan begun. We will educate you thoroughly about your particular diagnosis, but we have provided an overview below. Please contact us if you have any questions about this information or your own specific situation.
Donor insemination is a simple procedure that uses a syringe to place semen, obtained from someone other than a woman's husband or partner, into a woman's vagina to assist her in getting pregnant. Nearly 10 percent of infertile couples require the use of donor sperm to achieve a pregnancy, and over 60 percent of women will achieve pregnancy by six to nine months of insemination treatments.
Our patients may also choose to undergo Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) which involves the direct injection of sperm into eggs obtained from in vitro fertilization (IVF). ICSI is performed by the following procedure:
- The mature egg is held with a specialized pipette
- A very delicate, sharp and hollow needle is used to immobilize and pick up a single sperm
- This needle is then carefully inserted through the shell of the egg and into the cytoplasm of the egg
- The sperm is injected into the cytoplasm and the needle is carefully removed
- The eggs are checked the following day for evidence of normal fertilization
Once the steps of ICSI are complete and fertilization is successful, the embryo transfer procedure is used to physically place the embryo in your uterus. Then it is a matter of watching for early pregnancy symptoms. Our staff may draw blood and/or perform an ultrasound to determine if implantation and pregnancy has occurred.
Any woman who chooses to use anonymous donor sperm must be aware that the sperm may be frozen for at least six months before it can be used. This is done so that the donor can be tested to ensure that he does not have an infectious disease, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Frozen sperm may be less effective than fresh sperm and are not recommended for use due to the concerns of infectious disease transmission. A couple often may choose to use sperm from a donor who resembles the male partner.
* The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written on this site. No health information on this website should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.
