Drug therapy. Fertility drugs like Clomid
and Pergonal stimulate ovulation.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI). The most
common procedure, often used with drug therapy: sperm from the husband or a donor is
placed with a catheter into the uterus, bypassing the upper vagina and cervix.
Surgery. Surgery on women clears blocked
fallopian tubes or reduces endometriosis Surgery
on men repairs a varicocele.
In vitro fertilization (IVF). Eggs produced
using fertility drugs are removed from a ripe follicle, fertilized by sperm in a
laboratory dish and allowed to divide for about two days. Resulting embryos are placed in
the uterus.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). A
mixture of sperm and eggs is inserted into the fallopian tubes, where fertilization may
occur. Resulting embryos move into the uterus.
Zygote intrafollopian transfer (ZIFT). Eggs
are fertilized by sperm in a lab dish. Resulting embryos are placed in a fallopian tube
and move into the uterus.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In
a laboratory dish under a microscope, a single sperm is inserted into an egg, to increase
the chance of fertilization for men with poor quality sperm). The embryo is then placed in
the uterus.
Cryopreserved embryo transfer (CPE). Embryos
frozen after a previous NRT procedure are thawed and placed in the uterus.
Egg donation. Eggs are removed from the
ovaries of a donor, fertilized in a lab dish and placed in the uterus of an infertile
woman (expensive procedure, total cost between $10,000 and $20,000).
Surrogacy. A woman is implanted with an
embryo and is paid to carry the child to term. The egg may come from the surrogate mother
or the legal mother, the sperm from the legal father or a donor. (expensive procedure,
total cost typically over $10,000).
