The risks and prevention of Neisseria gonorrhoeae transfer in fresh ejaculate donor insemination

The risk of transferring gonorrhea with donor insemination was investigated in this study. Thirteen semen specimens contaminated by Neisseria gonorrhoeae were placed in containers as used in donor artificial insemination (AID) and cultured serially. Since most fresh ejaculates are used rapidly, a 2-hour peroid was used as the end-point. Ten of the thirteen ejaculates were positive on initial and 2-hour delay cultures. Three were negative by both cultures. The epidemiology of gonorrhea is reviewed, and those cases of gonorrhea reported following AID are discussed. The use of frozen semen as advocated by some is compared with the use of fresh ejaculates. It is shown that fresh ejaculates, which are more practical for many physicians and have better fertilizing capacity, can be used if proper cultures are obtained at the time of insemination. It is suggested that either frozen ejaculates with negative culture or fresh ejaculates screened by smear and cultured at the time of insemination be utilized. The use of fresh semen is possible, since results of appropriate cultures could be available and treatment instituted before clinical disease occurs.