In Vitro Fertilization is commonly referred to as IVF or Test tube baby. IVF is the process of fertilization by manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory. When the IVF procedure is successful, the process is combined with a procedure known as embryo transfer, which involves physically placing the embryo in the uterus. The 5 basic steps involved are Stimulate the development of healthy eggs in the ovary, collection of eggs, securing the sperm, combining the egg and sperm in a laboratory under favorable environment and transfer of the embryo into the uterus.

Intra Uterine Insemination or IUI is a fertility treatment that uses a catheter to place a number of washed sperm directly into the uterus. The goal of IUI is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and subsequently increase the chance of fertilization. It is often selected by couples who have been trying to conceive for at least one year with no success. IUI provides the sperm an advantage by giving it a head start, but still requires a sperm to reach and fertilize the egg on its own.

Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI is an in vitro fertilization procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into a mature egg. The fertilized egg is then placed into a women’s uterus. The procedure is primarily used to overcome male infertility problems.

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child for another couple or person. In a traditional surrogacy, the child may be conceived using artificial insemination using fresh or frozen sperm or impregnated using IUI or ICI technique.

Egg donation is the process by which a woman provides one or several eggs for purposes of assisted reproduction. Egg donation involves the process of in-vitro fertilization as the eggs are fertilized in the laboratory for Assisted Reproduction.

Sperm donation is the provision by a man of his sperm, with the intention that it be used to impregnate a woman who is not his sexual partner. Pregnancies are usually achieved using donated sperm by Assisted Reproductive Technology or ART. Techniques include ISI or IUI in a clinic, or intravaginal insemination at home and less commonly through IVF.

Reply: Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying. Or, six months, if a woman is 35 years of age or older. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be infertile.

Reply:

No, infertility is not always a woman's problem. Both women and men can have problems that cause infertility. About one-third of infertility cases are caused by women’s problems. Another one third of fertility problems are due to the man. The other cases are caused by a mixture of male and female problems or by unknown problems.

Reply: Many things can change a woman's ability to have a baby. These include—

• Age
• Smoking
• Excess alcohol use
• Stress
• Poor diet
• Athletic training
• Being overweight or underweight
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency

Reply: Infertility can be treated with medicine, surgery, artificial insemination, or assisted reproductive technology. Many times these treatments are combined. In most cases infertility is treated with drugs or surgery.
Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility based on—

• Test results
• How long the couple has been trying to get pregnant
• The age of both the man and woman
• The overall health of the partners
• Preference of the partners

• Sexual problems: Doctors can help men deal with impotence or premature ejaculation. Behavioral therapy and/or medicines can be used in these cases
• Too few sperm: Sometimes surgery can correct the cause of the problem. In other cases, doctors surgically remove sperm directly from the male reproductive tract. Antibiotics can also be used to clear up infections affecting sperm count.
• Sperm movement: Sometimes semen has no sperm because of a block in the man’s system. In some cases, surgery can correct the problem.

A number of fertility medicines are used to treat women with ovulation problems. It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of these medicines. You should understand the possible dangers, benefits, and side effects