Health Information Organization
The Infertility Cure
By Randine Lewis
Fertility & Conception
By Zita West
IVF the A.R.T. of making babies
By Sher, Marriage Davis, Stoess
Alternatives to IVF
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
The injection of sperm into the uterus by means of a catheter directed through the cervix. This procedure has been around for many years.This technique by-passes the need for the sperm to pass through the cervix, especially when a lack of cervical mucus is a problem.
The sperm must be washed before being injected to mimic the role the cervical mucus plays. The cervical mucus conducts the process called capacitation, where the head of the sperm is broken down so it can release the enzymes necessary to burrow through the wall of the egg.
The cervical mucus also breaks down the seminal plasma which contains prostaglandins that can cause life threatening reactions by the woman if it is allowed to reach the uterus.
Lastly, the cervical fluid breaks down the antimotility factors that are present in seminal fluid.
Intravaginal Insemination (IVI)
This is where sperm is simply injected into the vagina during fertile times or when ovulation is being artificially induced.It would be used mostly when there are impotence problems, problems with ejaculation, when surogacy has been chosen, or when the woman wanting to concieve does not have a partner, or is gay.
Artifical Insemination by Donor (AID)
This involves the use of donor sperm either because the woman's partner is infertile, she does not have a partner, or she is gay.Usually frozen sperm that has been screened for life threatening illness is used in this situation.
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
This is where incubated eggs and capacitated sperm are placed directly into the fallopian tubes via laparoscopy.The procedure of preparing for this is very similar to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
The pregnancy rates for this technique are quite high.
Natural Cycle IVF
This is IVF without the drugs used to stimulate ovulation.One or two follicles are extracted (the one or two that look like they may be the ones that are going to be ovulated) just before ovulation. They are then inseminated just as in a normal IVF procedure.
Not using drugs is less expensive. Although, the maturation of the follicles can happen at any time, so very close monitoring is necessary. This sometimes results is retrievals at difficult times of the day or week.
The rates of pregnancy using natural cycle IVF are much lower than regular IVF.
It does make sense to be used if the problem is blocked tubes, in an otherwise healthy younger woman.
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Infertility - Men's Health
 Spence Pentland, R.TCMP., DTCM Spence Pentland is a registered Acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC He practices at Acubalance Wellness Centre Ltd. on West 8th Ave. in Vancouver BC Canada. He is committed to Andrology, treating almost exclusively Men's and Women's infertility. |
Infertility - Gynecology
 Lorne Brown, Dr. TCM Lorne Brown is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC He practices at Acubalance Wellness Centre Ltd. on West 8th Ave. in Vancouver BC Canada. Treating Exclusively Women's infertility & gynecology. |
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[ Natural Fertility and Conception ] [ Testing Your Fertility ]
[ FAM - Fertility Awareness Methods ] [ Causes of Infertility ] [ IVF (in vitro fertilization) ]
[ Alternatives to IVF (IUI, IVI, AID, GIFT, ZIFT/TET) ] [ Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine ]
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