ABSTRACT
The development of techniques for cryopreservation of semen has expanded and simplified the use of artificial insemination by donor (AID). Abnormalities of the male reproductive system resulting in inadequate or absent semen and sperm are responsible for 30 to 40 percent of cases of infertility. The principal steps in performing AID are screening of the couple; evaluation of the female recipient; selection and management of the donor; and timing and technique of insemination. Evaluation of the female recipient should include a thorough history, gynecological and genetic screening, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory tests, such as serologic tests for syphilis, rubella, gonorrhea smear, Papanicolaou's smear, blood type and Rh, and other tests as indicated. Basal body temperature recording is an inexpensive and convenient method of ovulation timing but is only of retrospective value. The consensus of available reports and medical experts is that the medical, social, and psychological benefits of AID considerably outweigh any hypothetical risks.
