We can’t conceive naturally—what do we do now
Assisted conception, or assisted reproduction, is the term used when women are helped to conceive without having intercourse. There are five main procedures available, listed below. Your doctor will go through each one with you, and together you can make a decision about which is most appropriate depending on your problem. You can also contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)
✱ Ovarian Stimulation (OS), or Super Ovulation(SO), involves injections of fertility hormones to boost egg production. This is followed by intrauterine insemination (IUI) of sperm, whereby sperm are collected and sorted so that only the strongest remain and these are then artifically placed inside the uterus via a catheter. This is ideal for couples when the man’s sperm is “slow” or the woman has problems ovulating, or there is a combination of both.
✱ Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT). This is for couples for whom no cause for infertility has been found. It involves stimulating the ovaries to produce eggs, which are removed, mixed with sperm and replaced directly into the fallopian tubes,
allowing conception to occur inside the body
✱ In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This is the most widely used treatment and involves a seven-step process This is ideal for most problems,
including blocked tubes
✱ IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). This is used if the man’s sperm count is low, the motility of the sperm is very poor, or the woman is allergic to her partner’s sperm. The treatment involves injecting just one viable sperm into an egg
✱ Artificial Insemination by Donor (AID). This is simply the injection of donated sperm into the cervix.This is used when a man is unable to maintain an erection or is sterile. Similarly, women may require an egg donation if they are unable to produce their own eggs, although this is more complicated.Whatever treatment is provided, it is important that you and your partner are treated as a couple rather than separate patients. It is also essential that you are kept informed throughout the process and given information on any risks and benefits