Homologous insemination

For better planning and so the optimal time is not missed, the maturing of the woman’s ovum is observed through ultrasound and hormonal monitoring. The ovulation is then initiated in a targeted way through a single hormone injection. In this way, the fertile day can be precisely determined. In the event of cycle disturbances in the woman, it makes sense to support ovum maturation through gentle hormonal treatment that has been tailored to the individual woman. 

On the day of insemination, the man first provides a fresh semen sample in our centre. After preparation of the semen sample in the Fertility Centre’s laboratory, the intrauterine insemination is completed in the woman. The chance that the insemination, in combination with a hormonal treatment, will achieve a pregnancy is about 10-15% per cycle.

In which cases is insemination carried out?

The advantage of this method is that the most motile sperm cells of the partner are brought closer to the ovum in a concentrated form. The mucus-filled cervical canal, which poses a natural barrier for the sperm, is overcome with a thin plastic hose. Therefore, the procedure is especially suitable for counterbalancing a mild to moderate impairment of the sperm quality. Insemination is promising in the event of an immune reaction against the sperm cells, the narrowing of the cervix, or unsuccessful pregnancy with unknown cause.  Added to this are couples who can only have sex very rarely or who cannot have sex at all due to pain or erectile dysfunction.

You can find testimonies about insemination in the numerous self-help groups for affected couples. (Self-help group, Initiative Wunschkind e.V.)

Health insurance for intrauterine insemination (IUI)?

The statutory health insurance companies contribute at least 50 percent of the costs of treatment and medication if:

• The woman is at least 25 years old and no older than 39.
• The man is at least 25 years old and no older than 49.
• The couple is married to each other.

If all these conditions are fulfilled, then a proportion of the costs will be assumed for:

• eight cycles of insemination in a spontaneous cycle (where applicable, with gentle hormone treatment with Clomifen tablets)
• three cycles of insemination in combination with a hormonal treatment with injections.

Before the start of treatment, the relevant written declaration of assumption of costs (which is known as the treatment plan) must be submitted to the statutory medical insurance company and the approval awaited.

For private health insurance companies, services are not uniform. The application for assumption of costs must be made to the private health insurance company of the partner who is the cause of infertility. We recommend that you submit the application in advance, so that the assumption of the costs is clarified before the start of treatment.

We provide both the treatment plan for members of statutory insurance companies and the application letter to privately insured persons.

Couples with statutory health insurance who do not meet the requirements for the assumption of 50 percent of the costs, people with private health insurance whose private health insurance company will not assume the costs, or couples who are foreign residents must cover the costs of IUI (intrauterine insemination) themselves. The topic of assumption of costs is discussed individually with each couple during our consultation meetings.