IUI and Artificial Insemination (AI) for Low Sperm Count
Biology · Reproductive Health · NEET
Artificial Insemination (AI) is the ART used when the male partner cannot inseminate the female or has very low sperm count. Semen is collected from the husband OR a healthy donor and is put artificially into the vagina, or into the uterus (this is called IUI - Intra-Uterine Insemination). Memory hook: "Low sperm count -> AI/IUI -> put SEMEN in (not embryo, not sperm-into-egg)."
Artificial Insemination (AI): semen from husband or donor is placed into the vagina, or into the uterus (IUI). Used for low sperm count or inability to inseminate; fertilisation is in vivo.
Your doubts, answered
Is IUI the same as Artificial Insemination (AI)?
They are closely linked but not identical. Artificial Insemination (AI) is the general technique of putting collected semen artificially into the female. NCERT says the semen is introduced 'either into the vagina or into the uterus'. When it is put specifically into the uterus, that is called IUI (Intra-Uterine Insemination). So IUI is one form of AI.
Which ART technique is correct for very low sperm count?
Artificial Insemination (AI), which includes IUI. NCERT clearly states: infertility due to inability of the male to inseminate the female OR due to very low sperm counts can be corrected by AI. In NEET 2017 the official key chose 'Artificial Insemination' for a male with very low sperm count, not ICSI.
Then why is ICSI also linked to sperm problems? How is it different from IUI?
ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) injects a single sperm directly INTO the ovum in the laboratory to form an embryo. It is an in-vitro (lab) method. IUI/AI only places semen inside the female's tract and fertilisation happens inside her body (in vivo). For the standard NCERT/NEET 'very low sperm count' question, the expected answer is AI, not ICSI.
Can the semen come from someone other than the husband?
Yes. NCERT states the semen is collected 'either from the husband or a healthy donor'. This is why AI works even when the male partner's own sperm cannot achieve pregnancy - a healthy donor's semen can be used.
Is Artificial Insemination in vitro or in vivo?
In vivo. In AI/IUI the semen is placed inside the female (vagina or uterus) and fertilisation happens inside her body. This contrasts with IVF, ICSI and ZIFT which involve fertilisation or embryo formation outside the body (in vitro) in the laboratory.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ For 'very low sperm count', pick ICSI because it deals with a single sperm. ✓ NCERT's stated remedy for very low sperm count (or inability to inseminate) is Artificial Insemination (AI/IUI). ICSI is the lab method that injects a sperm INTO the ovum; it is not the NCERT answer for the plain 'low sperm count' question. 🧠 NCERT line beats logic: 'very low sperm count -> artificial insemination (AI)'.
Real NEET questions
2017
In case of a couple where the male is having a very low sperm count, which technique will be suitable for fertilisation?
A · Intrauterine transfer
B · Gamete intracytoplasmic fallopian transfer
C · Artificial Insemination ✓
D · Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Solution: NCERT states infertility due to inability to inseminate the female or due to very low sperm counts can be corrected by Artificial Insemination (AI), where semen from the husband or a healthy donor is introduced into the vagina or uterus. Intrauterine transfer moves embryos, not semen, so AI is the correct option.
2023
Statement I: Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is another specialised procedure of in-vivo fertilisation. Statement II: Infertility cases due to inability of the male partner to inseminate female can be corrected by artificial insemination (AI). Choose the correct answer.
A · Both Statement I and Statement II are true
B · Both Statement I and Statement II are false
C · Statement I is correct but Statement II is false
D · Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is true ✓
Solution: Statement I is wrong: ICSI forms the embryo in the laboratory by injecting a sperm into the ovum, so it is in-vitro, not in-vivo. Statement II is correct: inability of the male to inseminate the female (or very low sperm count) is corrected by AI. Hence Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is true.
Solved Reproductive Health NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Artificial Insemination. It is an ART technique for infertility caused by the male's inability to inseminate the female or by very low sperm count.
What is the full form of IUI?
IUI stands for Intra-Uterine Insemination. It is Artificial Insemination in which the semen is introduced specifically into the uterus of the female.
Where exactly is the semen introduced in AI?
NCERT says the semen is introduced either into the vagina or into the uterus (IUI) of the female.
Is fertilisation in AI/IUI inside or outside the body?
Inside the body (in vivo). The semen is placed inside the female and natural fertilisation occurs within her, unlike IVF/ICSI which are done in the laboratory.
Which is the answer for low sperm count in NEET - AI or ICSI?
Artificial Insemination (AI/IUI) is the NCERT and NEET answer for very low sperm count, as confirmed by NEET 2017.
