Donor insemination: report of a two-year study

Cryopreservation of human semen

A review is given of the techniques for the cryopreservation of human semen, including the preparation of cryoprotective media, the use of ampoules, straws, and pellets, and freezing and thawing techniques. The use of cryopreserved semen for therapeutic artificial insemination by donor is described. The advantages of cryopreserved semen over fresh donor semen mostly lie in the ability to exclude infections before use and the extra convenience, in spite of the lower success rate and increased cost. The recovery of sperm motility on thawing is described, as are other methods for assessing the degree of damage to the spermatozoa by the freezing procedure. The success rates reported by large semen banks are summarized.

Screening to reduce transmission of sexually transmitted diseases in semen used for artificial insemination

The practice of artificial insemination by donor semen is increasing in the United States. Many sexually transmitted organisms are found in semen, but screening procedures for the detection of these agents in donor semen have not been standardized. Sexually transmitted organisms have been transmitted during artificial insemination by donor, and such transmission can cause local, disseminated, or fatal disease in the recipient woman and may harm the fetus or newborn. Therefore, screening of both the donor and the donated semen is necessary to avoid infectious complications. Because semen samples cannot be evaluated completely on the day of donation, the use of fresh semen for artificial insemination should be discouraged. Until accurate, rapid diagnostic tests are available, only frozen semen that has been appropriately screened should be used.

Cryopreservation of semen in men with testicular tumour or Hodgkin's disease: results of artificial insemination of their partners

After cryopreservation of semen from men with testicular tumours or Hodgkin's disease the success rate of artificial insemination of their partners was analysed. The cumulative probability of pregnancy at 6 months was 45%. The chance of pregnancy was greater when timing of ovulation was predicted with measurements of urinary luteinising hormone. Sperm density and sperm motility were also important in predicting the likelihood of pregnancy.

Artificial insemination by donor: a review of 12 years' experience

Twelve years' experience of AID in a non-NHS clinic is reviewed. Of 381 women treated, 230 became pregnant at least once; 308 pregnancies were achieved in 450 courses of treatment (68%) resulting in 263 live births (85%). For women aged over 35 years the pregnancy rate was 47%. Timing of insemination and treatment with clomiphene are described. The use of fresh or frozen semen and future developments are discussed.