Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination is a fertility treatment where a catheter or needleless syringe is used to place sperm into the cervix or uterus with the intention of achieving pregnancy. It is a common fertility treatment among aspiring parents using donor sperm to conceive.

There are two approaches for the insemination process:

• ICI (Intracervical insemination)
• IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)

Artificial insemination is usually recommended for women and couples with no known fertility challenges. IUI can also be used for women who have mild endometriosis, anovulation or unexplained fertility.

The treatment is suitable for solo mums, same-sex couples and heterosexual couples who are starting a family with the help of a sperm donor and it is often recommended as a first step when you are starting treatment. 

Is artificial insemination right for you?

Artificial insemination is a popular choice that can help increase the chances of getting pregnant. Some of the reasons why it has gained popularity is:

• It is a simple and minimal invasive type of treatment
• It is less expensive compared to IVF and ICSI

You should always consult with your doctor or fertility specialist to decide which type of treatment is best for you and your situation. Fertility challenges such as PCOS and blocked fallopian tubes can be reasons to choose another type of treatment. Age also has a lot to say when it comes to fertility, and if you’re over the age of 35, IVF might be a better option for you.

ICI and IUI are the two main approaches used for artificial insemination. The process can also vary depending on the setting and whether the sperm comes from a donor or a partner. 

Artificial insemination at a clinic

Artificial insemination at a clinic is performed by a fertility specialist. The insemination procedure is simple and quick and usually only takes a few minutes.    

Artificial insemination at home

Some women and couples prefer to perform artificial insemination at home. Here you have the opportunity to be in a familiar and relaxing environment. Be aware that home insemination can only be done if you are having treatment in Denmark. An authorised health care professional, like a gynaecologist, a nurse or a medical doctor, also needs to be involved. This is regulated by Danish law.

Using partner sperm or donor sperm

Artificial insemination techniques can use donor sperm or partner sperm, and the choice typically depends on the reasons you are undergoing fertility treatment. For instance, donor sperm from a licensed and regulated sperm bank is usually used if you are an aspiring single mother by choice, a same-sex couple or if you experience male infertility challenges as a heterosexual couple. All European Sperm Bank donor sperm is screened to ensure high-quality donations and cryogenically stored until required. It is then shipped to your preferred clinic.

Partner sperm is used if you are a heterosexual couple experiencing mild fertility challenges or unexplained infertility.

Artificial insemination success rates vary depending on age, sperm quality, fertility and treatment specifics, such as the medications used. It can take several rounds of artificial insemination treatment before a successful pregnancy. Studies show that over half of women under 40 will get pregnant within six IUI treatment cycles (NHS). 

Age is perhaps the most important factor, with success rates for IUI treatment ranging from as high as 19.67% for under 24s and 3.45% for over 43s.

The cost of IUI and ICI treatments differs considerably between countries, with typical expenditure for a single treatment cycle often between £700 - £3,000 (800 - 3,500 EUR). The main costs involved include:

• Treatment - initial consultations, monitoring and the insemination procedure. 
• Medication - ovarian stimulation medications will often come at an additional cost.
• Donor sperm - aspiring parents typically pay per screened donor straw and for shipping to your clinic of choice. In some cases, you may also need to pay for storage. 
• Tests - some clinics will charge for additional blood and pregnancy tests.

IUI and ICI are less invasive and more affordable treatments than IVF. However, IVF benefits from higher success rates. IVF is typically recommended in cases where age-related fertility decline is a concern, after several unsuccessful IUI cycles, or when both donor eggs and donor sperm are required (double donations).

Generally, IUI is considered the first-line fertility treatment for single women or same-sex couples using donor sperm, couples in the early stages of fertility treatment, and women with mild fertility challenges. 

You can find a more comprehensive comparison in our guide to the differences between IUI and IVF treatment.

Fertility laws vary between countries, and aspiring parents should always ensure they understand the regulations in their treatment country. However, when using donor sperm from European Sperm Bank, donors never have parental rights or responsibilities to children conceived using their sperm. 

Using donor sperm safely

All European Sperm Bank donors are comprehensively screened to ensure suitability and guarantee healthy, high-quality donations. The screening process involves tests for sperm quality and infectious and genetically recessive diseases, a family medical history, and a sperm quality assessment. Only 5-7% of applicants are approved to donate.

Risks of private or informal donors

Using sperm from a private or informal sperm donation comes with several risks, including:

• Lack of screening - unregulated sperm donations are not subject to the same strict screening processes. This means there are greater medical risks and no sperm quality guarantees.
• Legal ambiguity - informal sperm donation does not offer aspiring parents the same legal protections as licensed clinics. This can result in disputes over parental rights and, in some cases, donors may be officially registered as a parent.

Following the insemination procedure, you will wait 14 days before taking a pregnancy test. This will reveal whether the treatment cycle has been successful. If the test is positive, you will be transferred to traditional maternity care for the rest of the pregnancy. If the test is negative, your fertility clinic will discuss next steps with you.

Getting pregnant isn’t always straightforward, and it can take several rounds of artificial insemination treatment before you get pregnant - just as it can take time to get pregnant without treatment.