inducing fertility

Cards (7)

  • Ovulation can be stimulated by drugs that prevent the negative feedback effect of oestrogen on FSH secretion.
  • Other ovulatory drugs mimic the action of FSH and LH.
  • Artificial Insemination
    • Several semen samples are collected over a period of time and injected directly into the uterus.
    • This process is used if the male has a low sperm count, or if the male is sterile a donor may be used to provide semen.
  • IVF
    Eggs are surgically removed from the ovaries after hormone stimulation. Eggs are mixed with sperm in a culture dish and the zygotes (fertilised eggs) are incubated until they have formed at least eight cells and are then transferred to the uterus for implantation.
  • IVF can be used in conjunction with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to identify single gene and chromosome abnormalities.
  • Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
    • A process similar to IVF but if the sperm are defective or very low in number, ICSI can be used. The head of the sperm is drawn into a needle and injected directly into the egg to achieve fertilisation.
  • PGD is offered to some women because it ensures that the baby does not have a genetic disorder/chromosome abnormality.