Jul 31 2008
What is In Vitro Insemination?
Fortunately, when couples are unable to create offspring through natural sexual intercourse, there are other alternatives available to them in order to conceive a child. In vitro insemination is one of these options. Traditional in vitro insemination involves co-incubation of the eggs and sperm in a laboratory overnight. In vitro insemination or artificial insemination may be done for the following reasons:
Prior testing has indicated no etiology (cause) for the couples infertility. (Unexplained infertility).
The man releases semen and sperm into the bladder instead of out of his penis. (Retrograde ejaculation). The sperm are retrieved, washed and used for insemination.
The man has absent sperm, or his count is low in quantity, poor in quality.
Problems with the woman’s cervix that prevent sperm from gaining entrance., such as prior surgery.
A woman does not have a male partner.
When severe sperm abnormalities require either in vitro fertilization with ICSI or donor sperm insemination.
I will explore issues regarding infertility in the next several weeks.
