Insemination, heterologous

Iatrogenic introduction of donor sperm from a man unknown to the woman in front of the portio vaginalis uteri (in special cases also intrauterine) at the ovulation date to achieve (extra-marital) fertilization in the case of the husband's inability to conceive. The procedure is not prohibited under the Embryo Protection Act of 1990, but is legally questionable and medically and ethically controversial. In addition to the father's inability to procreate, the use of donor sperm from only one donor (clear paternity) and the information of all those involved about all legal and medical consequences are prerequisites. The use of cryopreserved sperm after negative hepatitis and HIV serology significantly reduces pregnancy rates compared to the use of native sperm. Due to the increasing medical and technical possibilities of producing fertilisation even with small numbers or immature sperm (see intracytoplasmic sperm injection), this procedure will probably become less important.