OB/GYN Center Resource Guide Health Information

The OB/GYN Center

Intrauterine Insemination

Clinical indications for Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

- Mucous of poor quantity and/or quality

- Poor sperm quantity (low counts)

- Poor sperm quality

- Retrograde ejaculation (failure of emission)

- Extreme semen viscosity

- Combination of the above

Influencing factors

1. - Hours of sexual abstinence.

2. - Exposure of sperm to the seminal plasma (should not exceed 30 minutes.)

3. - Presence of white blood cells and/or dead cells

4. - Capacitation time

1. Ideally there should be no sexual activity for 48 hours but not more than 5 days prior to semen collection.

2. Ideally collection should be done at the lab in order to process the specimen within 30 minutes. If it is necessary to collect the specimen elsewhere, the patient should produce a "split ejaculate" using a set of containers taped together. Special wash media, provided by the Andrology Lab, should be used for insemination.

3. Ideally through special separation processes, white blood cells and dead cells are removed from the specimen used for insemination.

Swedish Medical Center Andrology Quality Control

* The wash media supplemented with non-human protein is made in the lab and closely resembles that used in IVF procedures. Each batch is portioned into individual tubes of 7 and 15 ml., therefore media used to prepare sperm is never exposed to room temperature until it is used. Each batch must support sperm survival for at least 24 hours.

* Only approved plastic ware, materials and reagents which come in contact with the specimen are used.

The physicians at The OB-GYN Center offer intrauterine insemination with or without clomiphene therapy. This procedure is performed by taking a sample of semen and placing a tiny plastic catheter through the cervical opening into the uterine cavity. The semen specimen is then injected into the uterine cavity.

Intrauterine insemination may be recommended in situations where the wifeís cervical mucous is of poor quantity and/or quality, and the husband has a low sperm count or has lots of abnormally shaped sperm.

The sperm specimen is collected at the Swedish Medical Center Andrology Lab by appointment at 601 East Hampden Avenue, Suite 350, phone 303 788-7672. The Andrology Lab recommends that prior to obtaining a specimen for insemination, there should be no sexual activity for 48 hours but not more than 5 days prior to semen collection.

The best quality of sperm in the specimen are skimmed off and placed into a special liquid used for insemination.

SEMEN ANALYSIS

Semen analysis is a first line infertility test. It is a panel of preliminary measurements and evaluations done on a semen sample. Because sperm counts and quality can vary, often two or three analyses may be requested by your physician.

This test is done at the Swedish Medical Center Andrology Lab at 601 East Hampden Avenue next to Swedish Medical Center, phone number is 303 788-7672. This test can be done by appointment between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday as well as 6:30 until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Semen should be collected after 2 days but not more than 5 days of sexual abstinence. The semen analysis should be collected at the laboratory. It is preferred that the semen analysis be collected at the laboratory. If this is not possible, it should be collected in a container which is provided by the Andrology Lab. It then must be delivered within one hour of collection.

The semen analysis is obtained by masturbation with ejaculation directly into the container. It is important that all of the ejaculated semen goes into the container. If some of the specimen is lost, it is important to let the lab know. Studies have shown that men produce 80% of the sperm in the first two drops of semen.

The semen specimen should not be collected in condoms, because they often have spermicide on them. There are special condoms available from the Andrology Lab which can be used to collect the specimen if necessary.

Coitus interruptus (withdrawal) is not an acceptable method of collecting the semen specimen because of the loss of the first portion of the semen specimen.

This information is provided as a resource only and not intented to be a recommendation or a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding your health and needs.

e-mail: webmaster@storkreport.com - copyright 1998 The OB/GYN Center

The OB/GYN Center

		Intrauterine Insemination
	Clinical indications for Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - Mucous of poor quantity and/or quality - Poor sperm quantity (low counts) - Poor sperm quality - Retrograde ejaculation (failure of emission) - Extreme semen viscosity - Combination of the above Influencing factors 1. - Hours of sexual abstinence. 2. - Exposure of sperm to the seminal plasma (should not exceed 30 minutes.) 3. - Presence of white blood cells and/or dead cells 4. - Capacitation time 1. Ideally there should be no sexual activity for 48 hours but not more than 5 days prior to semen collection. 2. Ideally collection should be done at the lab in order to process the specimen within 30 minutes. If it is necessary to collect the specimen elsewhere, the patient should produce a "split ejaculate" using a set of containers taped together. Special wash media, provided by the Andrology Lab, should be used for insemination. 3. Ideally through special separation processes, white blood cells and dead cells are removed from the specimen used for insemination. Swedish Medical Center Andrology Quality Control * The wash media supplemented with non-human protein is made in the lab and closely resembles that used in IVF procedures. Each batch is portioned into individual tubes of 7 and 15 ml., therefore media used to prepare sperm is never exposed to room temperature until it is used. Each batch must support sperm survival for at least 24 hours. * Only approved plastic ware, materials and reagents which come in contact with the specimen are used. The physicians at The OB-GYN Center offer intrauterine insemination with or without clomiphene therapy. This procedure is performed by taking a sample of semen and placing a tiny plastic catheter through the cervical opening into the uterine cavity. The semen specimen is then injected into the uterine cavity. Intrauterine insemination may be recommended in situations where the wifeís cervical mucous is of poor quantity and/or quality, and the husband has a low sperm count or has lots of abnormally shaped sperm. The sperm specimen is collected at the Swedish Medical Center Andrology Lab by appointment at 601 East Hampden Avenue, Suite 350, phone 303 788-7672. The Andrology Lab recommends that prior to obtaining a specimen for insemination, there should be no sexual activity for 48 hours but not more than 5 days prior to semen collection. The best quality of sperm in the specimen are skimmed off and placed into a special liquid used for insemination. SEMEN ANALYSIS Semen analysis is a first line infertility test. It is a panel of preliminary measurements and evaluations done on a semen sample. Because sperm counts and quality can vary, often two or three analyses may be requested by your physician. This test is done at the Swedish Medical Center Andrology Lab at 601 East Hampden Avenue next to Swedish Medical Center, phone number is 303 788-7672. This test can be done by appointment between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday as well as 6:30 until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Semen should be collected after 2 days but not more than 5 days of sexual abstinence. The semen analysis should be collected at the laboratory. It is preferred that the semen analysis be collected at the laboratory. If this is not possible, it should be collected in a container which is provided by the Andrology Lab. It then must be delivered within one hour of collection. The semen analysis is obtained by masturbation with ejaculation directly into the container. It is important that all of the ejaculated semen goes into the container. If some of the specimen is lost, it is important to let the lab know. Studies have shown that men produce 80% of the sperm in the first two drops of semen. The semen specimen should not be collected in condoms, because they often have spermicide on them. There are special condoms available from the Andrology Lab which can be used to collect the specimen if necessary. Coitus interruptus (withdrawal) is not an acceptable method of collecting the semen specimen because of the loss of the first portion of the semen specimen.
	This information is provided as a resource only and not intented to be a recommendation or a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding your health and needs. e-mail: webmaster@storkreport.com - copyright 1998 The OB/GYN Center