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Artificial insemination of sperm involves the collection of sperm into a container (rather than the vagina) and replacement of this sperm into the female reproductive tract. Usually, inseminations also involve processing the sperm to remove the seminal plasma (liquid in which the sperm is contained) and resuspension of the sperm into an inert buffered media (innocuous fluid). The sperm can then be placed into the (female) vaginal tract, cervical mucus, or uterus.
The reason that inseminations enhance successful reproduction in the presence of male factor infertility involves the placement of (even compromised) sperm in the immediate vicinity of mature (fertilization capable) eggs. Therefore, intrauterine inseminations are theoretically the most effective type of insemination for male factor problems.
Detailed discussions (general considerations, indications and procedures used) are contained within the sections of the infertility procedures tutorial.
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