Health Ethics

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ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

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First Page
Consists of depositing a
man’s semen in the
vagina, cervical canal or
uterus, through the use of
instruments (e.g. syringe)
to bring about conception
unattained or unattainable
by sexual intercourse.

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The process can either be:
1. intravaginal
• Placing the semen in the vaginal vault
2. Intracervical
• In the cervical cavity
3. Intrauterine
• Inside the uterus itself

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Extraction of semen:
1. Masturbation
• After a short period of abstinence from
ejaculation 3 to 12 days
2. Condomistic intercourse
3. Coitus interruptus
4. Anal massage of the prostate gland
5. Direct puncture of the epididymis
(excretory duct of the testicle)

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TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL
INSEMINATION
1. ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION BY
HUSBAND (AIH)
• CONSISTS OF COLLECTING THE
HUSBAND’S SPERM AND INJECTING IT
INTO HIS WIFE’S REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
VIA THE VAGINA AT THE APPROPRIATE
STAGE OF THE MENSTRUAL PERIOD.

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REASONS WHY COUPLE SEEK THIS
PROCEDURE:
1.1 The husband may be fertile but
unable to participate in normal sexual
relations;
1.2 The husband may have a low sperm
count.
1.3 The husband may use AIH as a
precautionary measure.

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• Does not destroy the personal and
sexual aspects of the marriage bond
and thus has been less criticized.
• Few legal concerns over the method.
• Few theological concerns except for
masturbation.

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2. ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION BY
DONOR (AID)
• Scientific aspects are the same as that of
AIH except that the sperm donor is used
instead of the husband.
• Raised a lot of questions and concerns

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REASONS WHY COUPLES SEEK THIS
PROCEDURE:
a. The husband might be carrying a
genetic disease that he does not want
to pass on to his child.
b. He may be sterile as a result of a
disease or accident.

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c. When there is some concern over the
antibody reaction from the mother
when, for example, the husband is Rh
positive and the mother is Rh
negative.

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2.1 Scientific considerations
• Sperm donors remain anonymous
• Accidental transmission of unknown
genetic traits
2.2 Ethical considerations
• The slippery-slope argument.
• The place of reproductive technology
in our society.