Getting Introduced To Various Art Techniques

By Author: Dr Baidyanath Dastidar
Total Articles: 7
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Various techniques of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) include In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT), Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT) and Artificial Insemination. Read on to know about these techniques and find out how these help women in getting pregnant.

If you have been yearning for motherhood, but to no avail, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) may help you get pregnant. It is a procedure that assists in the creation of the embryo in the lab. The embryos are later implanted in the uterus or fallopian tubes.

Techniques of ART include In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT), Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT) and Artificial Insemination.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
This is a process by which an egg fertilized by sperm in the lab and later implanted in the uterus. It is the most effective of all the ART methods, though most expensive as well. IVF may be an option if the couple has been diagnosed with endometriosis, problems with the uterus or fallopian tubes, problems with ovulation, low sperm counts, the inability ...
... of sperm to penetrate or survive in the cervical mucus antibody problems that harm sperm or eggs or an unexplained fertility problem.

The five basic steps to IVF are stimulation or super ovulation, egg retrieval, insemination and fertilization, embryo culture and embryo transfer. Stimulation is the administration of medicines to boost the production of eggs in the woman. Egg retrieval is a minor surgery called follicular aspiration to take out the eggs. Insemination and fertilization is placing of the man’s sperm with the eggs in controlled environment. The fertilized egg becomes an embryo. Lab staff regularly checks to make sure the embryo is in good health.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) is a technique that involves removal of eggs from the woman’s ovaries and placed in one of the Fallopian tubes along with the sperms. The basic difference between this procedure and IVF is that is that the fertilization takes place inside the fallopian tube rather than in a lab. However, GIFT will work only when tubes are healthy. Eggs are collected through the aspiration procedure, immediately mixed with mobile sperms and implanted in the tube.

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)
The procedure combines In Vitro fertilization (IVF) and GIFT. Eggs are stimulated and collected, fertilized with sperm in the laboratory and then laparoscopically placed in the fallopian tubes. The procedure is also referred to as tubal embryo transfer (TET) as the fertilized egg is transferred directly to the tubes. Again, the process will work only when the tubes are healthy.

Artificial Insemination
Sperms are introduced directly into a woman's cervix, fallopian tubes or uterus making the journey shorter for the sperm and bypassing the possible obstructions. The process is useful when a woman has issues with the cervix or her immune system rejects the partner’s sperms as invading molecules. It is also useful when the male partner is impotent. In this case, frozen sperm from a donor can be used.

The doctor can select any of these processes depending on the conditions for infertility treatment in India. The woman will usually undergo a few tests to enable the doctor determine the health of their cervix, fallopian tubes and uterus. The male partner may also be asked to go for a sperm test. Outcome of the surgery more or less depends on the outcome of the tests.

The writer of this article is associated with Ghosh Dastidar Institute for Fertility Research (GDIFR), which has earned acclaim for IVF treatment in India. They also offer other ATR treatments.