Assisted Reproductive Technology

With all the talk about contraception, conception is frequently neglected. This is a topic that may seem self-explanatory, but several difficulties can arise, especially for gay and lesbian couples, along with heterosexual couples who have fertility problems. Luckily, modern technology offers several alternatives to intercourse.

Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination is the easiest alternative to conception via intercourse, and it has been used with animals for centuries. This method simply entails placing sperm into the vagina without intercourse. In humans there are two variations: artificial insemination by the husband (AIH) and artificial insemination by a donor (AID). AIH is used when the husband, boyfriend, etc. has a low sperm count. Many samples of his sperm are combined to produce one with a higher sperm count, which is then placed into the vagina. AID (not the Sexually Transmitted Disease AIDS) is used when the father-to-be is sterile. Some people have tried to use artificial insemination for gender selection, but the success rates are not dramatically higher than the natural probability of 50/50 for having a boy or a girl.

Embryo Transfer

Embryo transfer is the exchange of an embryo, or developing egg, from one woman