question_answer 45)

    What are the assisted reproductive techniques practiced to help infertile couples? Describe any three techniques.

Answer:

                        ART techniques are described as follows (i) Test-tube Baby Programmes In this method, ova from the wife/donor (female) and the sperms from the husband/donor (male) are collected and are induced to form zygote under simulated conditions in the laboratory. This process is called In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The zygote or early embryo with up to 8 blastomeres is transferred into the Fallopian tube (process is called Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer or ZIFT) and embryo with more than 8 blastomeres is transferred into the uterus (process is called Intra Uterine TransferorlUT). In females who cannot conceive, embryos formed by fusion of gametes within the female (called in vivo fertilization) are transferred. (ii) Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT)It is the transfer of an ovum collected from adonor into the Fallopian tube of another female who cannot produce one, but can provide suitable environment for fertilization and further development of the embryo. (iii) Artificial Insemination (Al) in this method, the semen collected either from the husband or a healthy donor is artificially introduced into the vagina or into the uterus(Intra Uterine Insemination or IUI). This technique is used in cases where the male is unable to inseminate sperms in the female reproductive tract or due to very low sperm count in the ejaculation.