In the world of infertility nowadays, the concern about not having a child to create a happy family has decreased so much. Technologies and science come in the middle for saving couples with different methods available for treating infertility issues.
In the infertility center, many new and traditional methods help the patients treat their issues in different ways depending on their problems. The following are seven popular ways that doctors treat infertility:
1. Donating an egg, sperm, or embryo
- Egg donation is when a giver gives eggs to someone who cannot make their own. Hormonal treatments that sync up with the donor’s cycle are used to get the recipient’s uterus ready for embryo transfer.
- Sperm donation uses sperm from a donor and can be used in IUI or IVF. This method is often used when the male partner isn’t present or is having trouble getting pregnant.
- Embryo Donation: Couples who are having difficulty getting pregnant can get embryos that were not used in their IVF rounds. This process lets the couple that receives the embryos try to get pregnant using embryos made by another couple.
1. IVF
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is one of the best-known ways to help people get pregnant. There are several steps to it:
- Ovarian Stimulation: Certain fertility drugs are given to the ovaries to make them make more eggs.
- Egg Retrieval: Fully grown eggs are physically taken out of the ovaries. In the lab, the collected eggs are fertilized with sperm using either traditional insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), depending on what is needed.
- Embryo Transfer: One or more embryos are moved into the uterus after a few days of watching them grow.
1. IUI (intrauterine insemination):
Sperm are put directly into the uterus during IUI, which is a less invasive method. This is done around the time of ovulation. Most of the time, this method is used when there are minor fertility problems or infertility that can’t be explained.
1. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
ICSI is a type of IVF in which a single sperm is injected straight into an egg to help it become fertilized. This method works exceptionally well for couples who are having trouble getting pregnant because the man’s sperm count is low or his motility is terrible.
1. Ovulation (OI)
For this method to work, women who have irregular or no periods must take medicine to make them ovulate. By controlling ovulation, the chances of getting pregnant naturally can be raised.
1. Surrogacy
Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for someone else, usually a couple who can’t have children on their own. In one type, called gestational surrogacy, the baby is created using the intended mother’s egg and the father’s sperm. In another type, known as traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s egg is used to make the baby.
Surrogacy can be the most expensive and complex method in the infertility treatment era. It can cost more than $40,000 in the United States. Some Middle Eastern countries with much lower costs give surrogacy services to international patients.
Despite that, surrogacy, due to social concerns and religious beliefs, is banned. Iran and Turkey are the best Middle Eastern countries not to ban surrogacy. Of course, surrogacy is legal in Iran &Turkey.
1. IVM (In Vitro Maturation)
In this method, eggs that aren’t fully developed are taken from the ovaries and grown in a lab before fertilizing them. It is conducive for women who might not do well with standard ovarian stimulation.
New methods for infertility treatment:
Despite all the above techniques, there are very new and innovative methods for infertility treatments. According to research such as news. ohsu, these methods include:
| Method | Description | Potential Benefits |
| IVF-on-a-chip | A microfluidic technology that mimics the natural reproductive environment, improving sperm and egg analysis. | Increases selection efficiency and fertilization rates. |
| Bioprosthetic Ovaries | Artificial ovaries are developed from biological and synthetic materials to restore ovarian function in women. | It may allow women who have lost ovarian function to conceive. |
| Microfluidic Sperm Sorting | A non-invasive method using tiny channels to select motile sperm, mimicking natural selection processes. | Improves fertilization rates compared to traditional methods. |
| Robotic ICSI | Enhances precision in injecting sperm into eggs using robotic technology, reducing human error and egg damage. | This leads to higher embryo quality and better implantation rates. |
| In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG) | A technique that turns skin cells into eggs by transferring the nucleus of a skin cell into a donor egg. | It could provide viable eggs for women without their own, including same-sex couples. |
| Microfluidic Devices for Oocyte Trapping | Allows precise manipulation of oocytes and embryos, enhancing nutrient delivery and monitoring during IVF. | Increases chances of successful implantation by optimizing conditions. |
Wrapp-up:
The above methods are well-known for their success rate in infertility treatment and have been approved by scientists. Each technique has its impact, and the main point is that its success rate depends on specific situations that vary.
Which one is better for you? Just consult with the fertility specialist to get this question’s answer. Doctors consider your medical history, the test, and specific situations to find the best method that has the best result for you. Don’t be your own doctor; just discuss your issues with a health professional.