Infertility is when people are unable to conceive for over a year without using contraception. The reason for infertility can be either because of female factor infertility, including ovulation disorders, fallopian tube blockage, endometriosis, etc., or male factor infertility, including poor sperm quality and quantity.
In such cases, couples may consider medical intervention such as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) that can help them to conceive. A report suggests that 1 in every 6 couples has faced difficulty conceiving and requires ART treatment.
What is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)?
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) means fertility treatments and procedures to help couples who are unable to conceive naturally. ART is a complex set of procedures that involve manipulating eggs, sperm, or embryos to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
ART is generally recommended when other fertility treatments like Intrauterine insemination (IUI) have not been successful or when there is severe male factor infertility, tubal obstructions, or severe cases of endometriosis in females. One may also choose Assisted Reproductive Technology for genetic purposes or to avoid pregnancy complications.
There are several types of ARTs involving different techniques & procedures depending on the type of infertility and your medical condition. However, below are the most common fertility treatments recommended by fertility doctors.
Types of Assisted Reproductive Technology
1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF is a set of medical procedures to fertilize eggs and sperm outside the body. It is the most common assisted reproductive technology to help couples who have been unable to conceive a child for over a year and have been diagnosed with either male or female factor infertility or both.
The procedure involves stimulating ovaries using fertility drugs to retrieve a mature egg which is then fertilized with the sperm in a lab. The fusion creates an embryo or embryos that are either frozen for future attempts or placed back into the uterus. One cycle of IVF takes around 4-6 weeks. IVF is the most effective form of fertility treatment, with a higher success rate as compared to other ARTs.
2. Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)
Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) is also an assisted reproductive procedure similar to IVF. The eggs are retrieved and fertilized with sperm in a lab as in IVF. The only difference is that in ZIFT, the fertilized egg at this stage, called zygotes, is transferred into the fallopian tube instead of the uterus with laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.
From there, they will be carried into the uterus for implantation and develop into a fetus. ZIFT helps in treating many infertility causes except in cases where there is damage to or abnormalities of the fallopian tubes.
3. Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) is also a modified version of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The procedure involves collecting eggs from the ovaries, which are then placed in the catheter along with the sperm. Both eggs and sperm, i.e., gametes, are injected into the fallopian tubes using a surgical procedure called laparoscopy.
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer is more suitable if the IVF cycle is unsuccessful or if there are other or unexplained infertility issues. The difference between IVF and GIFT is the process of fertilization. In gamete-intrafallopian transfer, fertilization is in the fallopian tube rather than in the petri dish.
4. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI is a procedure carried out during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) where the semen is retrieved from the male partner, the best sperm are selected, and then injected directly into the egg using a tiny needle in a laboratory.
In order to form an embryo, the head of the sperm must attach to the outside of the egg, which is then pushed to the inside of the egg through the outer layer, i.e., cytoplasm. But sometimes, the sperm cannot penetrate the egg for various reasons, such as the low quality or motility of sperm. In such cases, ICSI may help overcome these male fertility issues.
Assisted reproductive technology sometimes also uses donor eggs or donor sperm, or previously frozen embryos to carry out the treatment. To know more about ART or in case you've been diagnosed with infertility and seeking fertility treatment options, consult a fertility specialist at Crysta IVF. They can suggest ART based on your need and type of infertility.
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