Assisted Reproductive Technology | Dr Rama Sofat Hospital

Assisted Reproductive Technology

Infertility is the inability to conceive or give birth to a child. Infertility is on a gradual rise in India. Strange right since India is among the most populated countries in the world. However,  reports suggest that infertility has become one of the common problems in India with over 10 to 14 percent of Indian population suffering from the pain of not having a child as described by Dr Rama Sofat (IVF Expert).

Infertility and its Treatment

Reproductive Health Problems and Strategies

Cause of Infertility

India is witnessing a rise in infertility and in the last five years there is an increase of 20 to 30 percent in infertility. Infertility affects rural as well as an urban phenomenon. Moreover, it is just not restricted to women. Men infertility is equally possible. However, the social stigma in Indian society is largely ignored and the women are always blamed for unable to bear children.

So it is very important to be educated about infertility and its causes and how it is possible to solve infertility with the help of assisted reproductive technology. There a number of reasons for infertility including congenital, drugs, diseases, immunological or sometimes psychological. A person affected by any of the above reasons can suffer from infertility.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Assisted Reproductive Technology is a number of different processes for the treatment of infertility. It helps to own pregnancy in different methods like in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and fertility medications. 

ART falls into the category of field endocrinology and cryopreservation, reproductive technology and infertility treatments, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

ART also helps in solving abnormalities due to genetic issues in the fertile couples. Couples also choose ART if they are incongruous to particular communicable diseases. ART techniques help to reduce the infection risks at the time of pregnancy parturition and lactation.

Infertility is not an easy condition and is certainly very difficult to deal and face. However, there are many ART treatments available that help to deal with this situation and solve it. Various types of ART to solve infertility complications are

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
• Surrogacy
• Donor Eggs

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilization or IVF is one of the most common types of ART techniques. Majority of the patients opt for IVF over other ART methods. In this method, a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm are undergoing combination in the laboratory. The next step is to transfer the embryo inside the woman’s uterus immediately after the fertilization of the embryo.

The method starts with the keeping track of the woman’s ovulatory process and stimulating it in order to remove an egg (ovum or ova) from the woman’s ovaries. The eggs are kept with sperm in a liquid for fertilization in a laboratory. The fertilization of egg results in the formation of zygote.

Furthermore, the zygote undergoes embryo culture for the duration of 2-6 days. Finally, transfer of the embryo culture in the same or another woman’s uterus takes place with the aim for the establishment of a successful pregnancy.


Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection

It is a special form of in vitro fertilization technique that helps in the formation of an embryo in the man by direct injection of the sperm into the egg/ovum. In this technique, it is possible to directly inject a single sperm cell into the cytoplasm of the ova. This technique helps in the preparation of gametes and formation of embryos which is finally transferred into the uterus of the woman.


Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine Insemination is the process of transfer of a man’s sperm into a woman’s uterus with the help of a long narrow tube. Moreover, it is possible to apply this method in combination with stimulation of ovulation. Together the processes can sometimes increase the chances of pregnancy.

The success rate of this technique completely depends upon the reason of infertility. Additionally, it is possible to increase the success rate of this method by nearly 20 percent if the inseminations take place on a monthly basis with fresh or frozen sperms. However, the increase of success rate depends upon woman’s age, fertility medications, infertility diagnosis and many other reasons.


Surrogacy

Surrogacy refers to the process where another woman bears a baby of the couple facing infertility issues. The formation of the baby can take place either by fertilization of egg and sperm from the couple or from donor egg and sperm. Thus, we can say a surrogate act as the carrier of the baby.

Donor Eggs

This ART method is applicable when it is not possible to see the woman’s eggs or there is some defect in the formation of eggs. The eggs/ova of the donor is taken. Therefore, the donor eggs further undergo fertilization with the man’s sperm. Moreover, the embryo remains in incubating condition until the transfer of the embryo to the woman’s uterus. The same process is applicable using sperm from a donor if the same problem lies in male member of the couple.


The main aim of the method is to have children. However, one thing that majority of the couple unable to have children overlook is that there are many orphan and destitute children in need of proper a life. These children will not even survive till maturity if they do not get a good life. Moreover, there are laws in India that help a couple to adopt these children.

The couples if opting for this option for parenthood, not only they will be able to have a child but they will also be able to give a proper and healthy life for the children who are in dire need for this.