Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes treatments that involve a laboratory which with technical means, improve the sperm quality or treat human eggs and sperm to help an infertile couple conceive a child. The following are some of the ART treatments available to couples trying to conceive.
Intrauterine Insemination
With this method, at the time of ovulation, the doctor using a fine tube, places the partner’s sperm into the woman’s uterus. In most cases, the sperm are treated in a lab to increase the chances for fertilization.
In Vitro Fertilization
With in vitro fertilization (IVF), eggs from the woman and sperm from a man are fertilized outside the body in a lab. The fertilized egg then is placed in the woman’s uterus to grow. The eggs are removed from the ovary just before ovulation. Medication is used most of the time to help the ovaries to produce more than one egg. Eggs usually are removed by inserting a needle through the vagina into the ovary under ultrasound guidance. The eggs are withdrawn through the needle. Analgesia or a sedative may be given. The eggs then are combined with sperm and are observed to see if fertilization occurs. A few days later, one or more fertilized eggs (embryos) are placed in the woman’s uterus through her vagina. This is called embryo transfer. The unused fertilized eggs can be frozen and stored for later use. The success rate of IVF depends on the woman’s age and the reason for the infertility. Its possible side effects are the same as those from ovulation medications.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
With intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), one sperm is placed directly into an egg to fertilize it. First, sperm are removed from the semen. One sperm is injected into each egg’s center. They are checked to see if the eggs are fertilized. Once fertilized, the eggs are placed in the woman’s uterus to grow, or they are frozen for later use. This technique is fairly new and little is known about any long-term effects.