What is artificial insemination?

Artificial insemination, also known as intrauterine insemination, is a treatment for infertility and ideally will make pregnancy possible for women who aren't able to conceive through normal intercourse. During this procedure, sperm are inserted directly into the cervix, fallopian tubes or uterus to bypass any possible obstructions to egg fertilization. This procedure follows a series of cycles, or the time from a patient's first day of a period, ovulation, insemination and finally concluding with a pregnancy test. This process only takes a few minutes, but patients will typically take fertility drugs for about a week before the procedure to improve their chances of conception (WebMD). Eligibility of Artificial Insemination Artificial reproduction qualifies as medical care per the IRS because it affects a function of the body. However, long term storage of eggs, sperm, or embryos might not qualify because of the lack of proximity of the expense to actual use of medical care. In these instances, it is best to check with your benefits provider.