Is Sperm Donation a Viable Option For Pregnancy?
For some couples with fertilization issues, same sex couples, and single women who want to have a child, sperm donation is a very viable option for pregnancy. For couple with fertilization issues, sperm donation can be a long awaited solution to your fertilization issues. Couples often submit themselves to many fertilization treatments that prove to be unsuccessful and take a great deal of time to complete. While this is understandable, if the fertilization treatments do not take, the next option for you can be sperm donation. For same sex couples, sperm donation is a great solution for you to have your own child and a great alternative to adoption. And for single women who want to have their own child but do not have a partner, sperm donation is a great option to get started on your family. There are many scenarios that might cause you to consider sperm donation as a viable option for pregnancy. This article will focus on the process of insemination in order to further explain how the sperm donation process can successfully work for your situation.
Insemination Process
The insemination process begins when you decide that you want to have a child, and you might not have a partner or you might be having fertilization issues within your own relationship. Insemination can be completed with donor sperm or with your partner’s sperm. However, in order to use your partner’s sperm, the partner must not be sterile or have a low sperm count. There are two types of insemination: Artificial Insemination and Intrauterine Insemination. During Artificial insemination, a thin tube is used to insert sperm into the cervix in the hopes that the sperm will enter the fallopian tubes and fertilize the woman’s eggs. During Intrauterine Insemination, the tube is used to insert the sperm into the cervix and then into the uterus. Before the sperm are inserted into the body, they are thoroughly washed and concentrated, as unwashed sperm could cause severe cramps.
The insemination process is completed quickly on an outpatient basis. You may experience some mild cramping during the procedure and you may be advised to refrain from any strenuous activity for the rest of the day, but overall it is a simple and painless procedure.
The success rate of insemination varies, as with any procedure. Success is largely based on the woman’s age and egg count, as these factors play in to the ability to become pregnant. Some associated risks of insemination could include multiple pregnancies, infection, birth defects, and cramping. It is important to speak with your doctor about any possible side effects before beginning the insemination process. However, the success rate of insemination is much higher than most fertility treatments, and often gives the couple or individual the feeling of control and a sense of self when they are able to be pregnant with their own child, or create a child on their own.
