In couples with mild infertility causes, intra-uterine insemination is the first step in tackling the problem. Indications such as a sperm quality slightly lower than normal may be treated by this method. Intra-uterine insemination is a painless procedure, performed on the day of ovulation. On that day the spouse provides a semen sample which is subjected to appropriate laboratory processing. After processing, the sperm cells are concentrated into a very small volume ((~0.5ml) and then placed in the uterus by a catheter. A prerequisite for performing IUI is that the fallopian tubes of the female partner are “patent” in order to let the motile spermatozoa pass through, meet the egg and fertilize it. An IUI may also be performed by using donor semen (heterologous insemination), in which case, the semen is provided by a sperm bank, either domestic, or from abroad. Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI)
