Assisted Reproduction

Assisted reproduction can be defined as the set of medical techniques and treatments
used to facilitate pregnancy when fertility problems exist. (Assisted Reproduction, 2019)

In Mexico, the most accessible assisted reproduction techniques are artificial insemination
and in vitro fertilization, but there is also another somewhat complex practice called
surrogacy. (GIRE, n.d.)

According to Medline Plus, the most common complication of these assisted reproduction
techniques is multiple pregnancy.

In Mexico, 3 out of 10 people suffer from medical infertility.

The right to decide on the number and spacing of children includes mechanisms to
facilitate procreation (Assisted Reproduction Techniques), but only one of these has been
partially legislated. The legal vacuum makes it difficult to access this type of service, and
allows institutions to apply discriminatory criteria that are contrary to human rights. An
example of this is the ISSTE National Medical Center 20 November, where a woman over
35 years old cannot have access to assisted reproduction techniques. (GIRE, n.d.)

In Mexico, there is partial legislation on the technique of surrogacy. Two civil legislations
allow it (Sinaloa and Tabasco), and there are 6 initiatives that propose to completely
legislate these techniques in order to avoid abuses and regulate this type of service.
(GIRE, n.d.)

Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination "consists of depositing a sample of semen in the female reproductive

tract (vagina)". To achieve this, the semen receives a series of modifications that seek to
improve it in order to achieve pregnancy. (SANITAS, 2020)

There are two types of artificial insemination, and they are defined according to the origin
of the semen:

- Homologous Artificial Insemination: In which the partner's sperm (male sexual gamete) is
used.
- Artificial Insemination Heterology: Which is carried out with sperm from a donor (usually
anonymous)

For artificial insemination to be achieved correctly, various processes must be carried out
which basically increase the number of eggs in the female genital tract with the help of
medication and perfect and clean the semen with specialised washing techniques.

Once the sample is ready, it is introduced into the uterus (intrauterine insemination) or the
cervix (intracervical insemination) with the help of a catheter connected to a syringe.
(Sanitas, 2020)

Among the few complications that can exist in artificial insemination, are

- Cramping pains

- Bleeding that stops after insemination

- Nausea and vomiting

- Pelvic infection

This technique has a success rate of between 15 and 25% per attempt, but can be
repeated several times.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

This form of assisted reproductive technology can be defined as the union of an egg and
sperm outside the woman's body, and then the egg or eggs (embryos) are introduced into
the woman's uterus" (MedlinePlus, n.d.)

According to Medline Plus, this technique is the most common and effective, but it is also
the most expensive, which makes it a little less accessible.

In order for it to be carried out, first the production of eggs must be stimulated, and then,
through minor surgery, they are removed from the woman's body. The best quality egg or
eggs are selected and placed with the sperm while they are held in an environmentally
controlled chamber, or the physician can directly inject the sperm into the egg. After this
comes the culture of the embryo, where in some clinics the parents are offered a
preimplantation genetic diagnosis that allows doctors to look at the genetic material of the
embryos for genetic disorders so that the parents can decide which embryos to implant,
decreasing the likelihood of transmitting a disorder to the child. Finally, the embryo is
transferred, which happens 3 to 5 days after the egg is removed and fertilized.

The probability of this technique working varies according to age, but is approximately
30%, but ranges from 13% to 43%.

It is important that these techniques are correctly and completely legislated in the country,
in order to regulate them, that there is better supervision and allows better control to avoid
abuses.

Bibliographies:

MedlinePlus (n.d.), Assisted Reproductive Technology, recovered from: MedlinePlus,

website: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/assistedreproductivetechnology.html

MedlinePlus (2018) In vitro fertilization (IVF), recovered from: MedlinePlus, website:

https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/007279.html

Paraiso, B. Arroyo, M. Salgado, S. Salvador, Z. (2019) Assisted reproduction: types, price

and Social Security, recovered from: Assisted Reproduction, website:
https://www.reproduccionasistida.org/reproduccion-asistida/#subrogacion

GIRE (n.d.) Assisted reproduction, recovered from: GIRE, website:

https://gire.org.mx/reproduccion-asistida/

Sanitas (2020) Methods of Assisted Reproduction, recovered from: Sanitas, website:

https://www.sanitas.es/sanitas/seguros/es/particulares/biblioteca-de-
salud/ginecologia/exploraciones-ginecologia/san041995wr.html