Artificial insemination (AI) is when sperm is placed into a female's vagina, uterus or fallopian tubes using artificial means rather than by sexual intercourse. In humans artificial insemination is usually part of an infertility treatment; either the woman's partner's sperm (artificial insemination by husband, AIH) or donor sperm (artificial insemination by donor, AID) can be used. Artificial insemination requires the close monitoring of the ovulation cycle. In artificial insemination, the child is carried to term in the uterus of the biological mother. Semen from the father is injected directly into her uterus to improve the chance of conception in a process called intrauterine insemination.