Artificial Insemination (AI), most commonly performed as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), is a foundational reproductive procedure that serves as an effective first-line treatment for various causes of subfertility. The procedure involves the direct placement of specially prepared and concentrated sperm into the female reproductive tract, typically the uterus, around the time of ovulation, significantly increasing the probability of conception. IUI is widely utilized in cases involving donor sperm, unexplained infertility, mild male factor infertility, and some instances of fertility challenges related to endometriosis. Crucial to the success of IUI is the precise timing of ovulation, which is monitored either through at-home urine ovulation predictor kits, transvaginal ultrasound imaging of follicle growth, or through the administration of medications like human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to induce ovulation.

The technological component is centered on the semen preparation process. A raw sample must undergo a "washing" process in a specialized laboratory to separate the highly motile, healthy sperm from lower-quality sperm and seminal fluid components that could cause adverse reactions in the uterus. This washing step yields a small, highly concentrated sample of the best sperm, ready for insertion. The procedure itself is minimally invasive, using a long, thin, flexible catheter threaded through the cervix into the uterus, where the sample is gently expelled. By delivering a concentrated dose of optimized sperm directly past the cervix, IUI bypasses common barriers to natural conception and remains a simple, yet highly effective, tool in the reproductive medicine toolbox.