Insemination
Encyclopedia
Insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm
into the uterus
of a mammal
or the oviduct
of an oviparous (egg-laying) animal for the objective of impregnating a female for reproduction. Insemination normally takes place during, and as the result of, sexual intercourse
between a male and a female, when semen is ejaculated
by the male into the female's reproductive tract, but can take place in ways not involving sexual intercourse.
Insemination by sexual intercourse is commonly referred to as natural insemination. In humans, insemination is most commonly performed by sexual intercourse with a male sexual partner
of the female's choice, and sometimes not of her choosing. (See: sexual selection
.) It can also be performed by a sperm donor. In most cultures intravaginal insemination by a male other than the female's normal sex partner is subject to social and sexual inhibitions and taboos, and has legal, moral and interpersonal implications. The incidence of intravaginal insemination by sperm donor is not known, because the arrangements is usually informal and all parties prefer to keep the arrangement confidential.
Artificial insemination
has been and continues to be commonly used in livestock breeding as an efficient way of increasing breeding. With artificial insemination, sperm is used to impregnate the female by direct deposit into the female's reproductive tract. Similar techniques are used in the case of humans, where sperm from a female's male partner or from a sperm donor can be used to impregnate the female. Artificial insemination is available, for example, to females to whom insemination by sexual intercourse is not viable, as in the case of the female not having a male sexual partner, is in a lesbian
relationship, the partner is impotent, the partner has died or the partner has some sexual or hereditary disability. Artificial insemination is also at times performed if a female cannot, for any of a number of reasons, conceive by sexual intercourse. There are laws in some countries which restrict and regulate who is able to receive artificial insemination.
In various other animal species, sperms are introduced into the female's reproductive tract by various means. For example, sperm can be introduced violently by traumatic insemination
, parenteral
injection through the body wall, such as in some species of hemiptera
. In some species of animals, sperms finds its way through the body wall when the spermatophore
is left in contact with the female's skin, such as in the onychophora.
Spermatozoon
A spermatozoon is a motile sperm cell, or moving form of the haploid cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon joins an ovum to form a zygote...
into the uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
of a mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
or the oviduct
Oviduct
In non-mammalian vertebrates, the passageway from the ovaries to the outside of the body is known as the oviduct. The eggs travel along the oviduct. These eggs will either be fertilized by sperm to become a zygote, or will degenerate in the body...
of an oviparous (egg-laying) animal for the objective of impregnating a female for reproduction. Insemination normally takes place during, and as the result of, sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
between a male and a female, when semen is ejaculated
Ejaculation
Ejaculation is the ejecting of semen from the male reproductory tract, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. It is usually the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. In rare cases ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease...
by the male into the female's reproductive tract, but can take place in ways not involving sexual intercourse.
Insemination by sexual intercourse is commonly referred to as natural insemination. In humans, insemination is most commonly performed by sexual intercourse with a male sexual partner
Sexual partner
Sexual partners are people who engage in sexual activity together. The sexual partners can be of any gender or sexual orientation. The sexual partners may be in a committed relationship, either on an exclusive basis or not, or engage in the sexual activity on a casual basis...
of the female's choice, and sometimes not of her choosing. (See: sexual selection
Sexual selection
Sexual selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, is a significant element of his theory of natural selection...
.) It can also be performed by a sperm donor. In most cultures intravaginal insemination by a male other than the female's normal sex partner is subject to social and sexual inhibitions and taboos, and has legal, moral and interpersonal implications. The incidence of intravaginal insemination by sperm donor is not known, because the arrangements is usually informal and all parties prefer to keep the arrangement confidential.
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
has been and continues to be commonly used in livestock breeding as an efficient way of increasing breeding. With artificial insemination, sperm is used to impregnate the female by direct deposit into the female's reproductive tract. Similar techniques are used in the case of humans, where sperm from a female's male partner or from a sperm donor can be used to impregnate the female. Artificial insemination is available, for example, to females to whom insemination by sexual intercourse is not viable, as in the case of the female not having a male sexual partner, is in a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationship, the partner is impotent, the partner has died or the partner has some sexual or hereditary disability. Artificial insemination is also at times performed if a female cannot, for any of a number of reasons, conceive by sexual intercourse. There are laws in some countries which restrict and regulate who is able to receive artificial insemination.
In various other animal species, sperms are introduced into the female's reproductive tract by various means. For example, sperm can be introduced violently by traumatic insemination
Traumatic insemination
Traumatic insemination, also known as hypodermic insemination, is the mating practice in some species of invertebrates in which the male pierces the female's abdomen with his penis and injects his sperm through the wound into her abdominal cavity . The sperm diffuse through the female's hemolymph,...
, parenteral
Parenteral
Parenteral is a route of administration that involves piercing the skin or mucous membrane. Parenteral nutrition refers to providing nutrition via the veins.-Etymology:...
injection through the body wall, such as in some species of hemiptera
Hemiptera
Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...
. In some species of animals, sperms finds its way through the body wall when the spermatophore
Spermatophore
A spermatophore or sperm ampulla is a capsule or mass created by males of various animal species, containing spermatozoa and transferred in entirety to the female's ovipore during copulation...
is left in contact with the female's skin, such as in the onychophora.
See also
- Fertilization
- Assisted reproductive technologyAssisted reproductive technologyAssisted reproductive technology is a general term referring to methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. It is reproductive technology used primarily in infertility treatments. Some forms of ART are also used in fertile couples for genetic reasons...
- Conception deviceConception deviceA conception device is a medical device which is used to assist in the achievement of a pregnancy, often, but not always, by means other than sexual intercourse or NI...
- Traumatic inseminationTraumatic inseminationTraumatic insemination, also known as hypodermic insemination, is the mating practice in some species of invertebrates in which the male pierces the female's abdomen with his penis and injects his sperm through the wound into her abdominal cavity . The sperm diffuse through the female's hemolymph,...
- Artificial inseminationArtificial inseminationArtificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
- Sperm donationSperm donationSperm donation is the provision by a man, , of his sperm, with the intention that it be used to impregnate a woman who is not usually the man's sexual partner, in order to produce a child....
External links
- Photos of Honeybee´s insemination