Inseminaatio

Inseminaatio, also known as artificial insemination (AI), is a fertility treatment technique that involves manually introducing sperm into a woman's reproductive tract. This process bypasses the need for sexual intercourse and is used to overcome various forms of infertility in both humans and animals. In humans, AI is a common procedure, often employed when there are issues with sperm count, motility, or when a couple has unexplained infertility. It can also be used by single individuals or same-sex couples who wish to conceive.

The procedure typically involves collecting a sperm sample, which is then processed in a laboratory to concentrate the healthiest sperm. This processed sperm is then carefully inserted into the woman's uterus (intrauterine insemination, IUI) or cervix (intracervical insemination, ICI) using a thin catheter. The timing of the insemination is crucial and is usually coordinated with the woman's ovulation cycle, often aided by ovulation-stimulating medications or monitoring.

In veterinary medicine, inseminaatio is widely used for breeding animals, especially those with valuable genetic traits. It allows for the efficient distribution of superior genetics across a population and can also be used to overcome geographical barriers or mismatches in breeding readiness between animals. The process in animals is similar, involving the collection and insertion of semen. While the term "inseminaatio" is general, IUI is the most common type of artificial insemination performed in human fertility clinics.