What Is Intra Tubal Insemination?
ITI is the type of artificial insemination, which is performed the least commonly. The reason of it is mostly because it is considered to be more invasive than any other of artificial insemination, and thus, it is associated with much higher costs, in comparison with them. This type of artificial insemination is actually performed by placing either intended father’s or donor’s sperm right into the surrogate mother’s fallopian tubes, where it has much higher chance to fertilize her eggs and hence, pregnancy is more likely to occur.
Timing of Intra Tubal Insemination
Just like all other types of artificial insemination, the time of the ITI performing has to coincide with the surrogate mother’s ovulation days. In order to find out about the best time of Intra Tubal Insemination performing, the future surrogate mother is to be given either urine or blood tests in order that the amount of Luteinizing hormone in her system would be measured. As soon as the level of this hormone reaches its peak, the procedure will be conducted in a day or two.
Methods of Intra Tubal Insemination
There are two possible ways of ITI conducting. Depending upon the surrogate mothers fertility issues and her and the intended parents preferences and agreements, it is possible to choose one method over the other. Actually, these methods are:
Intrafallopian Insemination
Intrafallopian Insemination (IFI for short) is considered to be quite a fairly invasive procedure, which is to be performed at local fertility clinic. As a rule it is performed by some experienced reproductive endocrinologist. The very procedure includes the following steps:
Sperm is collected from the intended father or from a donor; however, it also possible to use frozen sperm. Anyway, it is prepared using the sperm washing procedure, after which it is placed inside a sterile syringe;
A future surrogate mother is given local anesthesia;
After she stops feeling anything, a thin catheter is inserted inside her uterus through her vagina and cervix, into one or even both of her fallopian tubes;
The semen is pushed out of the syringe and all the way through the catheter, and it is placed into her fallopian tubes.
Sperm Intrafallopian Transfer
Sperm Intrafallopian Transfer (SIFT for short) is considered to be somewhat more invasive as well as time – consuming procedure, which is to be performed either in hospital or in a local fertility clinic. It requires the application of a laparoscope, with the help of which a catheter is inserted into the surrogate mother’s fallopian tubes. The very procedure includes the following steps:
A sperm sample is collected either from the intended father or from a donor, after that it is prepared to be transferred;
The future surrogate mother is given a local or general anesthesia before the surgery;
A small incision is made into the surrogate mother’s abdomen and a little camera is inserted into her pelvic cavity;
The camera is necessary to use when the opening to her fallopian tubes is located. After that a small catheter is inserted into the surrogate mother’s fallopian tubes;
With the help of a sterile syringe, the sperm sample is pushed along the catheter and it is deposited inside the woman’s fallopian tubes.
Intra Tubal Insemination Success Rates
There exists some debate about how successful ITI can actually be. However, it appears that Intra Tubal Insemination provides the same success rates, as Intra Tubal Insemination; its success rate ranges somewhere around 5% and 30% per one cycle. Therefore, some fertility specialists consider that the ITI procedures are much more successful. Anyway, it is necessary to conduct more and more researches in order to confirm the actual success rate of Intra Tubal Insemination.
Intra Tubal Insemination Costs
Intra Tubal Insemination procedure is truly considered to be quite an expensive one, and this is why not every couple of potential intended parents can afford it. A typical Intra Fallopian Insemination procedure can run up to $1,000, and Sperm Intrafallopian Transfer procedure even tends to cost more. In addition, it is necessary for every couple of perspective intended parents, who consider this method of artificial insemination to find out whether prices include the cost of sperm washing and / or sperm donation.
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