Legal Definitions - endogenous insemination

Endogenous insemination refers to a medical procedure where sperm from a woman's husband or established male partner is introduced into her reproductive system through artificial means, rather than through sexual intercourse, with the aim of achieving pregnancy. This method is typically chosen when natural conception is difficult or impossible due to various factors, but the male partner's sperm is viable for use.

Here are some examples illustrating endogenous insemination:

• Example 1: Addressing Male Fertility Challenges

  After several years of trying to conceive naturally, Mark and Lisa discover that Mark has a low sperm motility, meaning his sperm struggles to swim effectively to reach the egg. Their fertility specialist recommends endogenous insemination. Mark provides a sperm sample, which is then processed to concentrate the most motile sperm. This prepared sample is then medically introduced directly into Lisa's uterus during her ovulation period. This procedure allows them to attempt pregnancy using Mark's genetic material, overcoming the challenge of his sperm's reduced mobility.

• Example 2: Overcoming Physical Barriers to Intercourse

  Sarah and John are married, but John has a medical condition that makes sexual intercourse painful and often prevents successful ejaculation. Despite this, his sperm production is healthy. To start a family, they opt for endogenous insemination. John's sperm is collected through a medical procedure and then artificially inserted into Sarah's reproductive tract by a doctor. This enables them to conceive a child genetically related to both of them, bypassing the physical difficulties associated with natural intercourse.

• Example 3: Strategic Conception for Health Reasons

  Maria and David are a couple where David has a specific genetic marker that they wish to screen for in his sperm before conception, or they need precise timing for conception due to Maria's complex medical treatment schedule. While they could conceive naturally, they choose endogenous insemination for greater control. David's sperm is collected, potentially screened, and then introduced into Maria's uterus at a precisely determined time, aligning with her ovulation and medical treatment plan. This allows them to manage the conception process with medical precision using David's sperm.