What Would You Do For One Of These? Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The Statistics For fertile couples Viable ova exposed to viable sperm in fallopian tube 100 Ova fertilized 84 Zygotes implant in uterine wall 69 Zygotes surviving 1+ weeks 42 Zygotes surviving 6+ weeks 37 Live births 31

Infertility due to sperm defects 35-50% The Statistics For infertile couples Infertility due to sperm defects 35-50% Infertility due to ovulation problems 15-20% Infertility due to fallopian tube problems Infertility for unexplained reasons 15% *Couples are medically defined as infertile when they don’t conceive after one year of ‘normal’ attempts *Approximately 25% of infertile couples have more than one of the above factors!

Normal Fertilization Males In order to conceive (fertilize) and gestate (develop) an offspring a male must: Have enough sperm Have sperm with normal structure and function Have the ability to deliver sperm *A defect in any of these areas will cause infertility!

Normal Fertilization Females In order to conceive (fertilize) and gestate (develop) an offspring a female must: Have mature/developed ovum Be able to transport ovum from ovary to uterus Have an acceptable site for implantation Have an acceptable path for sperm Have a functional uterus *A defect in any of these areas will cause infertility!

Fertility Options/Assisted Reproductive Technologies Depending on the nature of their infertility problem, couples can: Conceive and gestate their own genetic offspring The ‘old-fashioned’ method Use fertility drugs Artificial insemination from father’s sperm In vitro fertilization with father’s sperm and mother’s egg Assisted hatching ICSI with father’s sperm and mother’s egg Cytoplasmic or nuclear transfer

Fertility Options/Assisted Reproductive Technologies Conceive and gestate an offspring that is not genetically related (or partially related) Egg donation and in vitro fertilization Artificial insemination from donor sperm Embryo donation Conceive, but not gestate, their own genetic offspring Surrogacy after in vitro w/ father’s sperm and mother’s egg Have an offspring which is not genetically related and which they do not gestate In vitro and surrogacy with only one parent gamete adoption