The inability to produce children inspite of unprotected sexual co-habitation by a couple is termed as infertility. Infertility clinics, could help in diagnosis and corrective treatment of some of these disorders and enable these couples to have children.In some cases where corrections are not possible,Infertile couples could be assisted to have children through certain special techniques commonly known as assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
In vitro fertilisation –IVF–fertilisation outside the body in almost similar conditions as that in the body followed by embryo transfer (ET). Or Test tube baby programme, ova from the wife/donor (female) and sperms from the husband/donor (male) are collected and are induced to form zygote under simulated conditions in the laboratory.
ZIFT–zygote intra fallopian transfer – The zygote or early embryos (with upto 8 blastomeres) could then be transferred into the fallopian tube
embryos with more than 8 blastomeres,
IUT – intra uterine transfer – The zygote or early embryos (with upto 8 blastomeres) could then be transferred into the uterus to complete its further development.
Invivo fertilisation – fusion of gametes within the female.
ICSI – Intra cytoplasmic Sperm Injection – Sperm is directly injected into the ovum, to form an embryo in the laboratory.
AI – Artificial insemination – Inability of the male partner to inseminate the female due to very low sperm count in the ejaculate can be corrected by this method –
IUI- Intra uterine insemination – The semen collected from the male partner is artificially into the vagina or uterus.