ARTIFICIAL AND HOME INSEMINATIONS

Many people use insemination: heterosexual or homosexual couples, single women… Several techniques and procedures exist.

MEDICALIZED ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

Some heterosexual couples are unable to have children in a natural way, often because one of the spouses is not fertile. They then resort to artificial insemination, a reproductive technique that does not involve sexual intercourse. This takes place in a medical setting: It consists of the insemination of the sperm of the spouse or a donor. Artificial insemination, which can be 100% covered by social security, is subject to the obligation to be performed in a medical environment, with administrative procedures and the impossibility of knowing the donor (or obtaining limited information from the donor like in the United Kingdom). Lesbian couples cannot yet access this procedure, which is only allowed by law to heterosexual couples who are married or have been living together for more than 2 years. Principles. When insemination is carried out in conjunction with the spouse, the semen collection is carried out on D-day. It is performed after a sexual abstinence period of 2 to 6 days. When it is performed with the help of a donor, frozen sperm is used. In all cases, the semen is tested and treated to ensure a safe insemination.

HI: HOME INSEMINATION

The advantage of this solution is that it does not impose any constraints: HI is a medical reproductive technique that takes place without medical follow-up, without sexual intercourse and does not require any official procedures. For example, in France, it is not authorized by law, as recalled in article L1244-3 (Public Health Code), and it can be punished with a fine of €30,000 and 2 years’ imprisonment. Semen can only be handled within the CECOS (Centre d’Études et de Conservation des Œufs et du Sperme or Centre for the Study and Conservation of Eggs and Semen in English) or any other sperm bank available on the territory. This legal inconvenience makes the artisanal insemination project morally burdensome, especially for couples who do not fall within the scope of a medical insemination authorized by law. It is a deliberate, inexpensive choice and allows the woman to choose the donor herself. Principles. Artificial insemination takes place in a private place, for example in a hotel if people prefer to meet in an environment outside their own home. This may involve friends or people who have made contact with each other through forums or specialized sites that allow men and women interested in insemination to get in touch with each other. The donor collects his sperm in a container. The fresh sperm is then injected into the vagina using a syringe or a pipette. This reproductive technique is often chosen by lesbian couples or single women.

WHO SHOULD USE WHICH METHOD?

Artificial (medical) insemination is only accessible to heterosexual couples who have difficulties conceiving a child. All the formalities are therefore arranged with professionals. Same-sex couples are not allowed to use legal methods, so they turn to home (non-medical) insemination, personally contacting a donor and performing the insemination by their own means.