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Using Reproductive Technology

Fertility Drugs

Fertility drugs are used to simulate the action of hormones from the pituitary. The drugs stimulate follicle development in the ovary, which makes it more probable that one or more egg cells may be released. It is because fertility drugs increase the chances that multiple eggs will be released. Also, the chance of having a multiple birth also rises.

Cytoplasmic transfer

In the cytoplasmic transfer, the cytoplasm from an egg from a younger female is transferred into the egg cell of an older female. It is believed that the transfer reduces the chances of genitive defects following fertilization .
Intrauterine Insemination
Sperm cells are transferred directly into the oviducts of the female following ovulation in the intrauterine insemination. Usually, most sperm cells disinagrate as they travel through the uterus to the oviduct. Insemination makes sure that sperm cells reach the egg in greater numbers, so there would be greater chances of getting pregnant.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer

Gamete intrafallopian transfer involves the sperm and egg being inserted in the oviduct (or, also known as the fallopian tube.) This way is believed to increase the chances of successful fertilization by bringing the sperm and egg cells together.

In Vitro Fertilization

The first step of in vitro fertilization is the use of hormones to prepare the ovaries for ovulation. During ovulation, a physician inserts an instrument, called a laparoscope allows the physician to locate the ovary and examine it. A suction apparatus extracts mature eggs from the ovary. The eggs are placed in a glass Petri dish and fertilized by the partner’s sperm. Following a brief incubation period, one or more embryos are transferred into the uterus by a small catheter. If at least one of the embryos implants, a baby will be born nine months later.

Egg Freezing and Egg Donations

Fertility drugs are employed to initiate multiple ovulations. Although a single egg may be fertilized, excess eggs are frozen. At a later date these eggs can be thawed and fertilized. Some zygotes are frozen after fertilization. Some of the eggs or zygotes could be implanted into the same mother at a later date, or donated to another woman who either had no eggs in her ovary or was unable to ovulate.

Embryo Transfer

A woman with a non-working cervix or uterus may ask another woman to give birth to her genetic child through embryo transfer. In this case, the egg from the first woman is combined with the sperm of her partner. Fertilization happens in the vitro. The zygote is transferred to a “surrogate” mother who carries the baby until the time comes and then returns it to the genetic parents. This technology raises legal and ethical questions.