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Artificial Insemination by Donor (A.I.D.) When is Artificial Insemination by Donor (A.I.D.) advocated Donor insemination is advocated for
a couple that has the problem of azoospermia or severe oligospermia. Sometimes,
if the husband is known to be the carrier of a hereditary disease, the
couple may have no option but to go in for A.I.D. if they do not want to
take the risk of having affected children. If a woman has lost many pregnancies
from severe Rhesus disease, A.I.D. using a Rhesus negative donor may be
considered.
Is this method of conception popular Donor insemination results in the
birth of thousands of babies every year. It is a widely acceptable and
legal method of having a baby but there are potential emotional, ethical
and even religious problems. For many men, unfortunately, infertility implies
failure as a man and they may find it very difficult to accept the concept
of A.I.D. Very careful counseling is always carried out by the clinics
concerned. It is imperative that the couple's relationship is a stable
one and that both can cope with the knowledge (a certainty in azoospermia)
that the husband has not fathered the baby himself. The informed consent
of both husband and wife is essential.
What is the criteria for A.I.D. The donors themselves are carefully screened regarding their general health and fertility, and are usually taken from a reasonably intelligent group of society. All donor specimens are carefully screened for sexually transmitted diseases prior to being used for insemination. Donors are also automatically screened for the AIDS virus. Blood group compatibility with the woman is also checked. Donors are matched generally with
the husband for race, height, hair and eye coloring. Sperm do not have
a religion. The semen samples used may either be fresh or frozen stored
samples sourced from a sperm bank. While frozen sperm are slightly less
motile, it has many practical advantages from the clinics' point of view.
The identity of both the donor and the couple will be kept confidential.
When and how is A.I.D. carried out Many clinics ask their patients to
maintain a B.B.T. Chart. If the cycle is erratic, the specialist may recommend
the use of clomiphene in order to make ovulation a regular and predictable
event. A.I.D. is carried out only during the fertile phase of the cycle
ideally as close to the time of ovulation as possible. Clinics carry out
insemination 1-3 times per cycle. The semen sample is painlessly introduced
into the entrance of the cervical canal. It is advisable for the patient
to rest on her back for some 20 minutes afterwards.
How successful is A.I.D. If there is no other problem causing
infertility, the pregnancy rate using frozen stored samples is 50%. As
in the normal fertile population, 80% of the pregnancies will occur within
a year of commencing treatment. There is no increase in the miscarriage
or abnormality rates.
What will my friends and family think of A.I.D. Opting for A.I.D. is a highly personal
and private issue. It is not necessary that this treatment be the subject
of public debate by your friends and relatives. For some the whole subject
may be unpalatable and it could put quite a strain on family relationships.
Your husband is probably highly sensitive about this topic and may not
wish all and sundry to know that he is sub-fertile or sterile. It should
only be discussed with your medical advisors who are guaranteed to keep
your consultations confidential. Make sure that there is no mention of
A.I.D. on your maternity notes. As far as everyone is concerned your husband
is the father of the baby. It is generally advised not to tell the child
that conception was by A.I.D. It can be very difficult for a child to come
to terms with this information.
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