The feeling after artificial insemination. Artificial intrauterine insemination with husband's or donor's sperm - indications, preparation for surgery and price

For couples facing infertility, assisted reproductive technologies become a chance to become parents.

One of the simple and accessible methods of assisted reproduction is artificial insemination. What is the essence of the procedure? How to behave after insemination? Who is it indicated for and are there high chances of pregnancy?

Artificial insemination - what is it?

Artificial insemination can rightfully be considered one of the first scientific methods of assisted reproduction. At the end of the 18th century, the Italian doctor Lazaro Spalazzi first tested it on a dog, resulting in healthy offspring of three puppies.

Six years later, in 1790, artificial insemination (AI) was first tested on humans: in Scotland, Dr. John Hunter inseminated a patient with the sperm of her husband, who suffered from an abnormal penis structure. Today the procedure is widely used throughout the world.

Artificial (intrauterine) insemination is a technology that involves the introduction of male sperm into the cervical canal or uterus of a woman. For this, a catheter and syringe are used. The day for AI is calculated taking into account the patient’s menstrual cycle.

It is necessary to accurately determine the periovulatory period, otherwise the procedure will be useless. The technology is used both in the natural menstrual cycle and in the hormonally stimulated one.

Sperm is obtained outside of sexual intercourse in advance (and then frozen, thawing on the day of AI) or several hours before the procedure. It can be processed or introduced unchanged.

How effective is artificial insemination? The statistical results are not very promising: fertilization occurs in only 12% of cases.

Who is the procedure indicated for?

For women, indications for vaginal insemination are:

1. the desire to become pregnant “for oneself” without having a sexual partner;
2. infertility caused by cervical factors (cervical pathologies);
3. Vaginismus.

Indications for insemination on the part of men are as follows:

• infertility;
• disorders of an ejaculatory-sexual nature;
• unfavorable prognosis for genetic diseases transmitted by inheritance;
• sperm subfertility.

In the first three cases, donor sperm is used.

After the procedure: how does the woman feel?

In order to undergo intrauterine insemination, a woman does not need to go to the hospital at all. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and lasts only a few minutes.

How does the patient feel? In practice, she experiences sensations that are no different from those during a routine gynecological examination. A speculum is inserted into the vagina, and perhaps the most unpleasant experience is associated with this. They disappear almost immediately after artificial insemination.

For a short time, there may be a painful pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, which is caused by irritation of the uterus. In rare cases, anaphylactic shock may occur with the introduction of unpurified seminal fluid.

To avoid allergic reactions and to improve the quality of sperm, it is recommended to clean it, even if the seed of the patient’s spouse is used as a biomaterial.

How to behave after completion of the procedure?

The gynecologist performing the procedure will definitely tell you how to behave after insemination, warn about possible consequences, and give the necessary recommendations. Immediately after the injection of sperm, the woman will need to remain in a supine position for one and a half to two hours.

A small pillow should be placed under the buttocks - an elevated pelvis facilitates better advancement of injected sperm into the fallopian tubes. This increases the chance of conception, for which, in fact, artificial insemination was carried out.

The success rate of the procedure depends on the patient’s age, the state of her reproductive health, and the quality of the sperm used. To increase the efficiency of AI, the donor material is processed, as a result of which only the highest quality sperm remain.

To ensure that a potentially fertilized egg can fully develop and implantation of the fertilized egg is successful, hormonal therapy with progesterone is prescribed. If three cycles in a row after artificial insemination do not conceive, other methods of assisted reproduction are selected.

What can and cannot be done during insemination?

Fertilization does not occur immediately at the moment of sperm injection; it requires several hours, up to a day, after insemination. What to do to increase the chance of pregnancy?

On the first day you must refuse:

1. from taking a bath, as water helps wash out some of the sperm from the vagina;
2. from douching;
3. from the administration of vaginal medications.

But having sex is not on the list of things that should not be done after insemination; some experts even see a benefit in this: unprotected sexual contact promotes better movement of injected sperm into the tubes.

Conclusion

By following these recommendations after insemination, within a week (that’s how long it takes for a fertilized egg to move into the uterine cavity and attach there) you can conduct a blood test for hCG. This hormone is a marker of pregnancy; it begins to be produced immediately after implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus. A home express diagnostic method - a pregnancy test - is not advisable to use earlier than 12-14 days. In urine, the concentration of hCG is achieved somewhat later than in the blood.

Video: Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

In recent years, an increasing number of married couples have needed assisted reproductive technologies. Just a few decades ago, despite certain problems, women and men remained childless. Nowadays medicine is developing at a very fast pace. Therefore, if you cannot get pregnant for a long time, you should use a method such as insemination. For those who succeeded the first time, this article will tell you. You will learn about the procedure and how it is carried out, and you will also be able to read reviews from patients who have gone through this stage.

Assisted intrauterine insemination

Artificial insemination is the process of introducing the sperm of her partner into the cavity of a woman’s reproductive organ. This moment is the only thing that happens artificially. After this, all processes are carried out naturally.

Insemination can be performed with the sperm of the husband or a donor. The material is taken fresh or frozen. Modern medicine and the experience of doctors allow a couple to conceive a child even in the most seemingly hopeless situations.

Indications for surgery

The insemination procedure is indicated for couples who cannot conceive a child on their own within a year, and both partners do not have any pathologies. Usually in this case they talk about infertility of unknown origin. Also, indications for insemination will be the following situations:

• decreased sperm quality or sperm motility in a man;
• erectile dysfunction;
• irregular sex life or sexual disorders;
• cervical factor of infertility (production of antisperm bodies in the partner’s cervical canal);
• age factor (both men and women);
• anatomical features of the structure of the genital organs;
• impossibility of sexual intercourse without protection (in case of HIV infection in a woman);
• the desire to conceive a child without a husband, and so on.

Insemination with sperm is usually carried out in private clinics dealing with assisted reproductive technologies. The procedure requires some preparation and has several stages. Let's look at them.

Exploratory survey

Artificial insemination involves diagnosing both partners. A man must have a spermogram so that specialists can sensibly assess the condition of the sperm. If unsatisfactory results are obtained during the procedure, additional manipulations will be applied. The partner is also examined for the presence of sexually transmitted infections, undergoes a blood test and fluorography.

A woman faces more diagnostics than a man. The patient undergoes ultrasound diagnostics, tests to determine genital tract infections, and provides fluorography. Also, the expectant mother needs to examine her hormonal levels and determine the ovular reserve. Depending on the results obtained, further tactics for working with the couple are chosen.

Initial stage: stimulation or natural cycle?

Before insemination, some women are prescribed hormonal medications. They must be taken in a strictly prescribed dose.

The doctor designates the days when the medicine is administered. It can be in the form of tablets or injections. Hormonal stimulation of the ovaries is needed for a woman with ovulation disorders, as well as for those patients who have a decreased number of eggs. A decrease in the number of eggs can be an individual feature or a consequence of ovarian resections. Also, a decrease in ovarian reserve is observed in women approaching 40 years of age.

Both during stimulation and in the natural cycle, the patient is prescribed folliculometry. The woman regularly visits an ultrasound specialist who measures the follicles. Attention is also paid to the condition of the endometrium. If the mucous layer grows poorly, the patient is prescribed additional medications.

Important point

When it is discovered that the follicle has reached the appropriate size, it is time to act. Depending on when ovulation occurs, insemination is scheduled a few days in advance or a couple of hours later. Much depends on the condition of the sperm. If fresh material is used, its administration can occur no more than once every 3-5 days. Therefore, the couple is offered two options:

• insemination 3 days before ovulation and a few hours after it;
• injection of the material once directly at the time of follicle rupture.

Which method is better and more effective has not yet been determined. Much depends on the health of the partners and the indications for which insemination is performed. Those who succeed the first time with a single injection are not advised to decide on a double injection. And vice versa. The situation is different with frozen sperm or donor material.

Another variant

Insemination by a donor always involves preliminary freezing of the material. Such sperm, after thawing, can be injected in several portions. The effectiveness of this method is slightly higher than fertilization with fresh material.

A partner in a married couple can also freeze sperm. You don't have to become a donor to do this. You need to discuss this issue with a reproductive specialist. During the process, its quality improves, only the best, fastest and healthy sperm are selected. Pathological cells are removed from the material. As a result of manipulation, a so-called concentrate is obtained.

Material introduction process

This procedure takes no more than half an hour. The woman sits in her usual position. A thin catheter is inserted into the cervical canal through the vagina. A syringe with the collected material is attached to the other end of the tube. The contents of the injection are delivered to the uterus. After this, the catheter is removed, and the patient is advised to lie down for another 15 minutes.

On the day of insemination, a woman is prohibited from straining and lifting heavy objects. Rest is recommended. There are no restrictions on the mode for the next day. However, you need to maintain personal hygiene, since after insemination there is a risk of infection.

On the first and second days from the transfer of material, a woman may experience a nagging painful sensation in the lower abdomen. Doctors do not advise taking medications. If the pain seems unbearable to you, then you need to seek medical help. Some patients may also experience slight bleeding. They are associated with minor and possible trauma to the mucous membrane. The discharge goes away on its own and does not require the use of additional medications.

Diagnosis of pregnancy

After insemination is performed, pregnancy should occur within a few hours. After this time, the egg becomes incapacitated. But at this moment the woman still has no way of knowing about her new position. Some patients are prescribed hormonal support. Drugs are always needed in a cycle with stimulation and sometimes in a natural one.

The post-insemination test will show the correct result after 10-14 days. If a woman has undergone stimulation and been given an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, she can see a positive test immediately after the procedure. However, he does not talk about pregnancy. The reagent on the strip only shows the presence of hCG in the body.

Ultrasound can most accurately confirm or refute pregnancy. But this may not be earlier than 3-4 weeks after the procedure. Some modern devices allow you to get results within 2 weeks.

Insemination: who got it right the first time?

There are statistics of couples who performed such manipulation. The chance of pregnancy ranges from 2 to 30 percent. Whereas in a natural cycle, without assisted reproductive methods, in healthy spouses it is 60%.

A favorable outcome on the first try usually occurs under the following conditions:

• the age of both partners is in the range from 20 to 30 years;
• the woman does not have any hormonal diseases;
• the man and woman have no history of genital tract infections;
• partners lead a healthy lifestyle and prefer proper nutrition;
• the duration of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child is less than five years;
• no previous ovarian stimulation or gynecological surgery had been performed.

Despite these parameters, success can be achieved in other cases.

Artificial insemination is a method of assisted reproductive technology that has been successfully used for hundreds of years to treat infertility. The procedure involves the introduction of prepared sperm into the woman’s uterus during ovulation using a thin catheter, where fertilization of the egg subsequently occurs.

Before and after the procedure, a woman may be prescribed hormonal therapy, which has some effect on her condition. As a rule, the process of fertilization and implantation itself should occur asymptomatically, according to doctors. Let's consider what sensations a woman may experience after insemination and what they are associated with.

The most common complaint that doctors hear from patients after intrauterine insemination is aching pain in the lower abdomen. If your stomach hurts immediately after insemination or in the first couple of days, then this is considered normal. This condition is associated with taking hormonal drugs and changes in the female body.

After fertilization, the ovaries begin to produce a large amount of sex hormones, which are necessary for the normal attachment of the fetus to the wall of the uterus and improve its nutrition. Often after insemination, the stomach hurts like before menstruation, and the breasts become swollen, swollen and painful.

It should be noted that this condition is normal only if there is no heavy bleeding and the pain is tolerable. If your stomach hurts unbearably after insemination, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is possible that some complications have arisen.

To relieve pain after insemination, it is recommended to get plenty of rest and spend time in bed. Doctors also advise eating light protein foods, avoiding gas-forming foods, fatty and spicy foods. It is very important to drink enough liquid and not worry.

After insemination, it is strongly recommended to stop taking painkillers and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; these drugs do not have the best effect on the development of the fetus. But if a woman still decides to take painkillers, she should definitely consult with her doctor. You cannot self-medicate; this can lead to serious consequences, including fetal deformity and early miscarriage.

Discharge

Another symptom that greatly worries women after insemination is brown and bloody discharge. Every woman knows that during pregnancy there should be no blood, so menstruation does not normally occur after successful insemination, because the egg is fertilized and begins to actively develop.

Bleeding after insemination can occur for a number of reasons:

• fetal implantation has occurred;
• During the procedure, the doctor damaged the vaginal walls;
• an ectopic pregnancy has occurred;
• a miscarriage occurred;
• menstruation began, which indicates unsuccessful insemination.

Bleeding looks different in each case, but it is recommended that a woman talk to her doctor if she sees blood on her underwear after insemination or IVF.

The most favorable bleeding is implantation bleeding, which occurs 5-7 days after the procedure. This happens in some women when the embryo grows into the wall of the uterus. When the fetus attaches, it damages small capillaries that begin to bleed. In this case, the discharge is scanty, light, most often pink. In case of trauma to the genital tract, the discharge is also very scanty, the blood is light and scarlet.

Spotting after insemination can also be a bad symptom, for example, an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, bleeding may be moderate or profuse, and the condition is usually accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen. If a woman experiences symptoms such as pain and blood after insemination, she should consult a doctor immediately.

In case of failure, menstruation after insemination occurs on days 11-15. Menstrual bleeding indicates that pregnancy has not occurred and the procedure was unsuccessful. Heavy bleeding before menstruation, that is, on days 5-10, may indicate that fertilization has occurred, but for some reason the embryo has been rejected.

Temperature

Often after insemination, women complain of fever and weakness. This condition is a variant of the norm; it is associated with the hormonal system, in particular with an increase in the level of progesterone in the body.

Normally, the temperature rises to 37.5 degrees and does not last long, only the first couple of days. At this time, a woman may feel drowsiness, weakness, aching pain in the lower abdomen and bloating. It is recommended to rest more and worry less during this period.

If the body temperature has risen above 38 degrees, a woman has questionable discharge, has a headache, or feels nauseous, then she needs to see a therapist. After insemination, there should be no such symptoms; most likely, the woman fell ill with an infectious pathology.

Nausea

Doctors often hear from patients that they feel nauseous after insemination. Normally, nausea should not occur after insemination, no hormones can provoke the appearance of such a symptom, and it is too early for toxicosis to occur.

If a woman feels sick after insemination, this may be due to strong feelings and poor nutrition. First of all, it is recommended to remember what the woman ate today, whether she is starving herself due to a nervous state. After the procedure, you need to follow proper nutrition; fasting and overeating are strictly prohibited.

If nausea is accompanied by vomiting, fever and abdominal pain, this may be a sign of a serious pathology, for example, exacerbation of gastritis or intestinal infection. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Pregnancy

The most important question is what pregnancy symptoms may occur after insemination? As sad as it may sound, there cannot be any symptoms in the first days. All signs are associated only with hormonal changes in the body or with taking medications to stimulate ovulation and maintain pregnancy.

It is possible to say for sure whether pregnancy has occurred only 2 weeks after insemination. To do this, a woman is recommended to take a pregnancy test for home use, as well as a test for the hCG hormone.

Therefore, if a woman is not bothered by anything at all after insemination, there is no need to be upset, this condition is the absolute norm. It must be remembered that every woman’s body is individual, just like pregnancy. The best thing an expectant mother can do is relax and hope for the best.

How to increase your chances of pregnancy with IUI (Video)

Stages of the artificial insemination method, indications, preparation, chances of getting pregnant

Of all the ART methods, the closest to the natural process of conception is only artificial insemination (AI). The cost of this procedure compared to IVF is attractive, but it is not suitable for everyone.

lasts longer than IVF itself. It is done in reproductive centers around the world. Much experience has been accumulated in the methodology, and therefore it is widely used and brings the expected results.

The essence of AI is the introduction of purified sperm into the genital organs (internal) of a woman.

Historically, four options for insemination at the site of delivery of male germ cells have been formed:

• In the vagina, closer to the cervix. Now this method is called “artificial insemination at home.” The effectiveness of the option is questionable, but there are women who managed to get pregnant this way.

• Directly into the cervix. Nowadays it is used extremely rarely due to lack of effectiveness.

• Into the uterine cavity. Today, this is the most used and effective method of artificial insemination. This will be discussed further.

• Into the fallopian tubes.

As with all patients requiring reproductive assistance, when performing AI, doctors follow an individual approach. Indications, contraindications and physiological capabilities of the organisms of future parents are taken into account.

Therefore, artificial intrauterine insemination can take place in different ways:

• with drug stimulation of the ovaries (efficiency increases, since 2-3 eggs mature at once in one cycle);
• without stimulation - in a natural cycle.

Based on their sperm characteristics, it can be recommended.

For single women, clinics provide a special program, according to which the procedure is carried out for those who want to conceive, give birth and raise a child on their own (without the participation of a man).

Artificial insemination: indications

AI can be carried out with male and female factors.

For women, the indications for artificial insemination are as follows:

• infertility of unknown origin;
• endocervicitis;
• sexual disorder – vaginismus – a condition in which natural sexual contact is impossible;
• abnormal locations of the uterus;
• immunological incompatibility - the presence of antisperm antibodies in the mucus of the cervical canal;
• violation of ovulatory function;
• a woman's desire to become pregnant without intercourse.

Indications for artificial insemination for men:

• impotence or lack of ejaculation;
• male subfertility – decreased sperm activity;
• retrograde ejaculation - sperm is thrown into the bladder during ejaculation;
• small volume of ejaculate;
• increased sperm viscosity;
• hypospadias – congenital abnormal structure of the urethra;
• chemotherapy.

AI Stages

Despite its mechanical simplicity, AI is a delicate and responsible work of a team of specialists - a gynecologist-reproductologist, clinic laboratory staff, and doctors of related specialties. The methodology involves a step-by-step and sequential approach.

Stages of artificial insemination:

• Examination. At this stage, a thorough study of the health status of both partners, the identified causes of infertility is carried out, and a strategy for the procedure is determined.

• Treatment. If any somatic and infectious diseases are detected, they are treated. Doctors take measures to improve the condition of a woman’s body, ensure the pregnancy is carried to term, and avoid possible complications during childbirth and the pregnancy itself. If necessary, treatment is prescribed to a man to improve sperm quality.

• If the preparation plan provides for a stimulating effect on the ovaries, a hormonal simulation is performed.

• Direct artificial insemination.

• Determination of pregnancy by hCG monitoring. In the absence of pregnancy, the procedure, according to regulatory documents, is repeated up to 6–8 times. Although recently experts have come to the conclusion that if 3 attempts at AI were unsuccessful, then it is necessary to change tactics and consider the possibility of performing artificial insemination in a different way. For example, IVF, ICSI, PIXI, IMSI.

Preparing for artificial insemination

The effectiveness of artificial insemination depends on how accurate the diagnosis is. At this stage, doctors decide whether stimulation is needed and how to clean the sperm.

A woman's preparation includes:

• detailed medical examination by a gynecologist, therapist, endocrinologist, cardiologist;
• tests;
• ultrasonic monitoring;
• treatment of detected chronic diseases, including infections and inflammation of the genital organs;
• study of the menstrual cycle (needed to determine the cyclicity and regularity of ovulation);
• and the condition of the inner lining of the uterus;
• after treatment, control tests are taken;
• drug stimulation of the ovaries.

Depending on the individual characteristics of the couple, it can take a period from several weeks to six months.

Preparing a man:

• consultation with a urologist;
• tests for sexually transmitted infections;
• analysis of prostate secretion;
• Additionally, prostate massage may be prescribed;
• treatment and correction of identified disorders.

On what day of the cycle is artificial insemination performed?

Carrying out artificial insemination is effective only in the periovulatory period - these are several days of the cycle during which the release of an egg (or eggs during stimulation) from the follicle is possible. Therefore, the phases of the menstrual cycle are monitored first. To do this, you can measure rectal temperature and build graphs, use ovulation tests. But the most accurate method of monitoring the development and maturation of the egg is ultrasound. Therefore, after critical days, ultrasound is performed quite often, every 1–3 days. The frequency of ultrasound may vary. The higher the degree of maturity of the female reproductive cell, the more often an ultrasound is performed (in order not to miss ovulation and to determine on what day of the cycle artificial insemination should begin).

The ideal option is to introduce sperm into the uterus during the periovulatory period 1–3 times. The first time it is administered a day - two days before ovulation, the second - directly on the day of ovulation. And if several follicles mature in the ovaries, they can burst at intervals of 1–2 days. Then the sperm is injected again. This increases the efficiency of the procedure as a whole.

One of the determining factors on which day of the cycle to perform artificial insemination is the origin of the sperm. If used, then it can be administered based only on ovulation. If you use fresh (native) sperm, then take into account the fact that high sperm quality can only be achieved if you abstain for at least 3 days. Therefore, sperm can be injected immediately after ovulation. It does not harm, as it has been proven to be viable for up to 7 days.

How does artificial insemination work?

On the appointed day, the couple arrives at the clinic. A woman undergoes an ultrasound. A man gives a sperm sample. Sperm cannot be introduced into the uterine cavity immediately without prior preparation. This is fraught with anaphylactic shock. This type of allergic reaction develops quite rarely, but its course threatens the patient’s life. Sperm preparation (purification and concentration of the viable fraction) takes about two hours.

How is artificial insemination performed? Quickly, painlessly, under sterile conditions. You don't have to worry about this. And the sensations will be minimal - only at the moment the flexible thin catheter passes the cervical canal of the uterus.

The woman moves into the gynecological chair. Speculums provide access to the cervix. Prepared spermatozoa along with the medium are drawn into a syringe and connected to a catheter. With a slight movement of the catheter, they penetrate the uterine cavity and carefully inject the prepared suspension of the “best” sperm from a syringe. On the first day - that's it. The manipulation is completed. And the woman remains in a horizontal position for 15–25 minutes. After which he returns to everyday life.

At certain times, the manipulation is repeated 1-2 more times. Follicle monitoring continues until ovulation. And after two weeks, the effectiveness of insemination is assessed - the level of the pregnancy hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin - is determined. If pregnancy is not confirmed, AI is repeated in the next cycle.

Efficiency and chances of getting pregnant

The chance of getting pregnant with artificial insemination is higher in women under 30 years of age, with patency of both fallopian tubes and normal ovulatory function. The average effectiveness of one procedure is 18%. This is slightly more than during natural sexual intercourse. The quality of the sperm used plays a significant role in the positive outcome of AI.

Some fertility clinics claim success rates as high as 28%.

Seventy-eight percent of women succeed in becoming pregnant in the first three cycles of insemination. The effectiveness of subsequent procedures decreases sharply. That is why doctors rationally change the tactics of artificial insemination and recommend other IVF methods after three attempts at insemination.

It should also be mentioned that the chances of artificial insemination increase in stimulated cycles.

For all those interested, artificial intrauterine insemination - this is the “infusion” of the husband’s (or donor’s) sperm into the woman’s uterus. For this procedure, a thin catheter is used, and the whole process lasts no more than two to three minutes. Everything is simple, easy and quite painless, although the moment of penetration of the catheter into the cervical canal is quite unpleasant, although it only lasts seconds. The only problem with AI is its low efficiency.

I “went” to AI twice and, alas, without success. More precisely, it worked the first time (Hurray! Beginners are lucky!), the hCG began to rise, but at 5.5 weeks the pregnancy spontaneously terminated. The second attempt was a complete failure.

However, the very fact of the miracle that happened suggests that AI is not at all useless, and someone was actually lucky enough to get pregnant in this way. That is why I wrote material about how it goes, how much it costs, and how artificial insemination usually ends.

How is insemination carried out?

Preparation for insemination takes about a month: this is not the case when you come, pay money and have a quick “infusion”. Be prepared to visit a therapist, endocrinologist, mammologist, and even have a heart ultrasound done before you are allowed to sign an agreement for the provision of services. When all additional studies have been completed, the reproductive specialist will most likely prescribe an ovulation stimulation regimen. Of course, AI occurs in a natural cycle, but much less frequently: in this procedure, the very fact of accomplished ovulation, confirmed by ultrasound, is extremely important.

So, after the ultrasound shows the leading follicle ready for ovulation, you will be assigned days for AI. Most likely, the procedure will be performed twice - before and after ovulation. Although some clinics make do with a one-time “infusion”.

On day “X,” the spouse must arrive at the clinic two to three hours earlier than the time scheduled for AI and donate sperm - it will be processed in a centrifuge so that only the best motile sperm remain. It is worth mentioning here that in the end there will be very little sperm left, but the quantity, as we already know, does not mean anything - the main thing is the quality characteristics.

When you arrive at the clinic, the first thing you will do is change into a hospital gown and cap. Don’t be alarmed, a twenty-minute stay in the ward will not threaten you with anything terrible.

The procedure itself will take place in the operating room (if you have already undergone laparoscopy, you will immediately recognize in the operating room the wonderful Rakhmanov bed on which you will one day give birth to your child). As mentioned, the AI ​​lasts a couple of minutes. Then you will be left to lie down for about half an hour - and then go home. All.

Feelings after insemination by day.

For some reason, it is assumed that after the “infusion” the woman will feel somehow special. However, it is not. The first day there may be a nagging pain in the abdomen, but soon it goes away, and after 48-72 hours there is absolutely no sensation. (In my first insemination, the nagging pain returned a week after AI and ended only when the pregnancy was terminated. In the second case, the pain also appeared after about 7 days, but disappeared by the beginning of menstruation.)

Since in the second phase support with utrogestan is most often prescribed, unpleasant chest pain and a feeling of heaviness may occur - but this, alas, does not yet mean pregnancy. Just like the presence of nagging pain before the expected menstruation does not mean failure.

And, of course, finally about the most exciting thing - pregnancy tests. You can find a lot of advice on the Internet about when to start “soaking” the treasured tests, but I think my example will very clearly illustrate the real situation: I did the first test after receiving the hCG result (32), there was not even a “ghost” on the “super-ultra-hypersensitive” test " The second strip appeared only on the 29th day of the cycle (hCG 59). Everyone's body is structured differently. And late implantation is far from a myth, keep this in mind.

How much does insemination cost in Moscow?

The cost ranges from 8 to 30 thousand rubles - such an obvious difference is due to the fact that the insemination protocol is specifically included in the price. The minimum price means that you will pay for all additional visits to your doctor and ultrasound monitoring separately. Experience shows that the total amount in this case is much higher than in clinics where “all inclusive”. In addition, if AI is carried out in an induced cycle (i.e. ovulation is stimulated with drugs), you will have to pay for the drugs separately, and this is another 600 to 15 thousand rubles. And, of course, do not forget to add to this amount the list of necessary examinations before the procedure.

In total, both inseminations cost me approximately 85 thousand rubles.

How effective is insemination?

According to official statistics from 2014, insemination guarantees only 11% success. Yes, this is disproportionately small compared to IVF. But AI is a more gentle procedure, and, importantly, more economical, so it’s up to you to decide. After two unsuccessful attempts, I refused to continue, but the first attempt still brought results, and if you are just preparing for the AI ​​procedure, let this thought warm you.