Question

Briefly explain IVF and ET. What are the conditions in which these methods are advised?

Answer 1

In vitro fertilisation (IVF):

The in vitro fertilisation is an assisted reproductive technique in which the semen from the male partner and egg from the female partner are collected and allowed to fertilise outside the female body in a test tube. The fertilised ovum is transferred into the female reproductive tract (fallopian tube: ZIFT or uterus: IUT, depending on the developmental stage of the zygote) for further development.

Embryo transfer (ET):

Embryo transfer is the technique in which the embryos either upto 8 blastomere or more than 8 blastomeres are transferred to the female reproductive tract for further development. This follows IVF.

There are two types of embryo transfer depending on the number of blastomeres in the embryo.

$\bullet$ ZIFT: Zygote intra fallopian transfer

$\bullet$ IUT: Intra uterine transfer

Types of ET:

Zygote intra fallopian transfer (ZIFT): In this method, the zygote formed after in vitro fertilisation or early embryos (with upto 8 blastomeres) is transferred into the fallopian tube.

Intra uterine transfer (IUT): In this method, embryos with more than 8 blastomeres are transferred into the uterus.

Conditions in which ET and IVF are advised:

The techniques of in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer are advised to couples who cannot have their own children due to infertility.

Infertility refers to the inability to conceive or produce children even after unprotected sexual cohabitation.

There can be various reasons for infertility such as:

$\bullet$ Male is unable to produce motile sperm.

$\bullet$ Low sperm count in semen.

$\bullet$ Female is unable to produce a proper and functional ova.

$\bullet$ Diseases and drugs also can cause infertility.