Introduction to Artificial Fertilisation

IVF is one of the most well-known and widely used assisted reproductive technologies. The process of IVF involves retrieval of eggs from a woman’s ovaries. These eggs are then fertilised with sperm in laboratory conditions and the resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus. It is a complex and often expensive process, however the success rates are typically high. Continue reading

ICSI is very similar to IVF. The main difference is that the fertilisation process does not occur independently. Instead, sperm is carefully selected and manually injected into the egg to form an embryo. It is a very precise procedure and can achieve good results. Continue reading

Although perhaps not as commonly known as IVF, IntraUterine and IntraCervical Insemination (IUI and ICI) are very popular procedures. They are less expensive than IVF and not as complex. Both IUI and ICI involve injecting sperm into the perspective mother. In the case of IUI, the sperm is injected directly into the uterus, while in the ICI the sperm is injected into the cervix. IUI is generally preferred over ICI due to better success rates. Continue reading

Modified IVF treatments, ZIFT and GIFT involve retrieving eggs and combining them with sperm in a laboratory. However, rather than inserting the zygotes (ZIFT) or gametes (GIFT) into the uterus, they are injected into the fallopian tubes. Fertilisation takes place naturally within the body and closely resembles natural conception. The success rates are similar to IVF. However, both GIFT and ZIFT require two surgical procedures opposed to one. Continue reading

All medical procedures present some risks and ARTs are no exception. Not only are there physical aspects, but there are also financial and emotional considerations. Continue reading