Infertile couples are often advised to get help by opting for assisted reproductive technology or ART.
The process includes a number of fertility treatments that manipulate the mature oocyte as well as healthy sperms allowing them to come together and result in fertilization.
The measures are varied with the commonest form involving removal of the mature egg from the patient’s body and mixing it with healthy sperms within a laboratory.
The resultant embryo is transferred into the uterus with the natural progression of pregnancy allowed to take place. Assisted reproduction involves participation of both the partners or the egg and sperms.
Techniques that involve treating the sperm or development of eggs by partaking of medicines without any intention of retrieving the oocytes for fertilization are not regarded to be a part of ART, however.
There are a number of assisted reproductive technology options considered by fertility experts. The selection depends on the patient’s health as well as the efficacy of the reproductive organs. Some of the widely used procedures of ART that has been recognized and followed worldwide include the following:-
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
The concept of this IVF is to facilitate fertilization of an egg by a healthy sperm outside the body.
It often takes place within controlled environment of a well equipped laboratory. Initially known as test tube baby, this process has seen unprecedented success with a majority of infertile couples hoping to start their families with the aid of IVF cycles.
The female patient has her ovaries stimulated to produce mature eggs that are retrieved from the body and mixed with a batch of washed sperms removed from the male partner.
The fertilized egg forms the embryo that is transferred to the womb of the patient within 3 days of successful fertilization. The fertility doctor may decide to transfer 2-3 embryos simultaneously to ensure pregnancy. However, this is done in accordance with the need.
Many fertility clinics have found waiting for 5 days after fertilization to be more beneficial. Cell division occurs speedily in the embryo to form a blastocyst that is then transferred into the uterus and left to be implanted on the uterine lining.
Pregnancy is confirmed by means of an ultrasound test between 6th to 7th week of the transfer.
Ovulation Induction (OI)
This is a process by which ovulation is induced in a woman who does not ovulate regularly.
Medication or hormonal injections is often effective for ovulation that helps in development of follicles.
Mature eggs are released from the follicle either spontaneously or with the aid of medicinal drugs. The oocyte (egg) is removed from the patient and fertilized outside the body.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Also known as artificial insemination, this process is done by placing a number of sperms directly into the womb so that the maximum number of healthy sperms reaches the patent fallopian tubes and results in fertilizing the oocyte.
This is often conducted where the male partner has a physical problem with the reproductive organs or has a low sperm count or abnormal motility.
Using Donor Sperms/Eggs
The fertility experts may ask the patients for their consent when the sperms produced by the male partner is not healthy enough to result in fertilization.
Women of advanced years and unable to produce healthy eggs may also go forward with ART with eggs provided by a donor. Patients who had failed to conceive previously via IVF may also consider using one of the extra embryos that had been frozen during the previous cycle.
This helps in reducing the time span with the patient not having to go through the entire process once more.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI has proved to be highly effective for males with low sperm count or poor quality sperms.
The fertility experts manipulate a single healthy sperm to pierce the shell of the mature oocyte so that it can fertilize the egg successfully without the need for penetrating the tough outer layer of the egg. The rest of the process is similar to a conventional IVF.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
PGT is a specific process used in conjunction with IVF to screen and eliminate the possibility of giving birth to babies with genetic defects and abnormal chromosomal structures. The embryos are checked carefully before being selected for transfer.
This helps the couple to reduce the risks of passing on defective genes to their child. It has been appreciated and welcomed by patients who aspire to have a healthy baby after successfully conceiving a child through ART.
Surrogacy
A couple may consider the option of surrogacy as the last resort. This is advised for coupes when the female partner is totally unable to conceive or carry the baby.
A number of single parents have considered this option too. A third person (woman) who is fertile and healthy enters into a legal agreement with the couple by choosing to carry the child for the full term and give birth to it before handing it over to the parents.
The Surrogacy Bill of 2019 has been formulated with a number of new conditions. It is yet to be legalized though.
KIC, Bengaluru is well known to be one of the top fertility centers in the city. It offers a number of fertility treatments with all of the above mentioned assisted reproductive technology procedures being offered at affordable rates. Know more about the center by visiting https://kicbengaluru.com/
Call 7204051333 / 29900967627 and book and appointment ASAP.
You are also welcome to email to info@kicbengaluru.com if you have any questions.
Follow and like our Facebook Page for more such interesting information and updates. Visit here: https://www.facebook.com/KICBengaluru/
Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kic_bengaluru/