Remedy to Infertility

 

Introduction:

Most couples considered to be infertile had lost all hope, thinking nothing else could be done. Some of these couples are not really infertile, but there are bridge-like situations that have to be crossed in order for conception to happen. This article is all about revealing these medical embryonic procedures that had helped couples cross these bridge-like situations and conceive.

Remedies for infertility:

Just like the case of the causes of infertility, remedies to infertility are categorised into remedies to male factors of infertility and remedies to female factors of infertility.

Remedy for male factors of infertility:

After a thorough test and analysis, especially semen analysis (that is done using the semen of the subject) carried out for the required period of time by a medical laboratory scientist or a urologist (a physician who has specialised knowledge and skill regarding problems of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs), any of the following procedures might be carried out depending on the outcome of the result of the analysis.

Intrauterine inseminations (IUI) – this is a type of artificial insemination in which the semen is collected and carefully placed into the uterus (womb); from there it can find its way to the fertilisation area in the uterine tube during ovulation of the female subject. This procedure is used when the sperm concentration in the semen is less than 20 million/mL, yet the total motile sperm in the semen are at least 1 million.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) – In vitro fertilisation is a kind of fertilisation that occurs outside the female body system. This type of fertilisation occurs in the laboratory inside a petri dish (a shallow cylindrical glass or plastic lidded dish that biologists use to culture cells). This involves extraction of ovum or egg from the female subject into an environment in the laboratory convenient for cell culture or fertilisation (normally a petri dish), and semen containing sperm is also extracted using the required procedure into the petri dish so that fertilisation would occur. Once fertilisation occurs, the zygote or embryo is removed from the petri dish and carefully placed inside the womb for implantation to occur. This procedure is carefully monitored.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, on the other hand, is a procedure in which a normal sperm is injected into the cytoplasm of the ovum or egg for fertilisation to occur more easily.

The combination of the two procedures is used when the sperm counts are extremely low or if motility is poor.

Remedy to female factors of infertility:

After thorough tests involving the ovary (ovulation, i.e., the release of an ovum or egg from the ovary at approximately the 14th day of a normal 28-day menstrual cycle), uterine tube (to check for any blockage caused by disease), uterus or womb (to check for any problem involving implantation of the formed zygote or embryo), any of the following procedures can be carried out depending on the result of the tests.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) – I have explained this procedure above. This procedure is carried out to overcome any problem that would prevent the sperm from getting to the site of fertilisation in the uterine tube called the ampulla or the fertilised egg from getting to the womb or uterus for implantation.

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) – This procedure is preferred by some ethnic and religious communities, which allows only fertilisation that occurs in the woman’s body. In this procedure the eggs are retrieved and placed into one of the fallopian tubes along with sperm. This makes sure that the egg and sperm are in close proximity so that fertilisation can occur easily, overcoming any hindrance that would have prevented the sperm or even the egg.

Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) – This is similar to in vitro fertilisation (IVF), but instead of placing the embryo directly inside the uterus, the embryo is placed into one of the uterine or fallopian tubes for implantation to occur the natural way. With this procedure, the sperm and the egg are brought close for fertilisation to occur easily, overcoming any hindrance that would have prevented the sperm from crossing the vagina or cervix.

Surrogacy – This is a situation whereby a woman (known as the surrogate mother) is contracted to carry a baby which is not biologically hers to term. In this procedure, egg and sperm are retrieved from the biological mother and father, respectively. These gametes are placed to fertilise in the laboratory, then the fertilised egg (embryo) is placed on the surrogate mother’s womb or uterus. This procedure is used in a condition where a disease condition, e.g., diabetes, prevented the biological mother from carrying the child. This procedure is also used when, because of one reason or another, the biological mother’s womb cannot carry the child to term.

In some cases where both couples were found fit to be fertile or have children but could not because of an unknown reason, adoption is advised. This would help the woman to conceive, as proved by some research.

Visit any fertility centre near you for more information on this subject matter.

Remember, health is wealth and information is the key; read and learn.