4 Artificial Reproductive Technologies

 In Vitro Fertilation (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilation (IVF) is a complex series of procedure used to help with ferti-
lity or prevent genetic problem and assist with the conception of a child.
During IVF,mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by
spermin a lab.Then a fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos)are transferred to a
uterus.One full cycle of IVF takes about three weeks.Sometimes these steps are
split into different parts and the process can take longer.
IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology.The procedure
can be done usimg a couple’s eggs anf]d sperms.Or IVF may involved eggs,sperm
or embryos from a known or anonymous donor.In some cases,a gestational
carrier(someone who has an embryo implanted in the uterus) might be used.
The chanses of having a healthy a baby using IVF depend on many factors,such
as your age and the cause of infertilty.In addition,IVF can be time
consuming,expensive and invasive with more than one fetus(multiple pregnancy)
 Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) is a three step procedure that involves
removing the eggs,combining them with sperm,and imediately placing them in the
fallopian tubes,where the egg is fertilized.
The woman is given follicle-stimulating drugs to increase her chances of
producing multiple eggs.The eggs are collected via aspiration and mixed with
sperm.
Using laparoscopy,the combined egg and sperm mixture is placed in the fallopian
tubes.
GIFT is an option only if the woman has a healthy uterus and fallopian tubes.
 Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer (ZIFT)
Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer (ZIFT) is an infertility treatment used when a
blockage in the fallopian tubes prevents the normal binding of sperm to the egg.Egg
cells are removed from a woman’s ovaries,and in vitro fertized.The resulting zygote
is placed into the fallopian tube by the use of laparoscopy.
 The procedure is an spin-off of the gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) proce-
dure.The pregnancy and implantation rates in ZIFT cycles are 52.3 and 23.2%
which were higher than what was observed in IVF cycles which were 17.5 and
9.7%
 Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
A Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) is a type of IVF treatment where a cryopre-
served embryo created in a full IVF cycle is thawed and transffered to a uterus.
FET typically usus “extra” embryos a couple has from a previous conventional
IVF cycle a cryopreserved embryo can also be a donor embryo.
A “fresh” embryo isn’t necessarily preferred, but it can be helpful in some cases.
For example, in younger patients when there is not suspedted chromosomal issue or
in older patients who have embryos that didn’t make it to testing in the lab that
might have a better chance in utero without testing.
Some doctors recommend elective frozen embryo transfer (also reffeed to as a
“freeze all” approach) where fresh transfer is not attempted. In this case, all
embryos are cryopreserved and transfered in FET cycle in the next month or so.