Assisted Reproduction is a set of techniques, used by specialized doctors, whose main objective is to try to enable pregnancy in couples with difficulties to have children. In Brazil, the number of couples seeking this treatment has been increasing considerably, especially in São Paulo, where the process can be done in public hospitals at no cost.
The number of babies born by assisted reproduction techniques worldwide has reached a total of five million this year, according to the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, indicating the success of this technology for the benefit of fertility and the relationship of many couples.
Many couples who often use assisted reproduction do so, because more than having children, they would like to experience the pregnancy, which could not be resolved with the adoption of a child.
The main question that comes to mind of couples and which usually generates conflicts is about which gender is usually responsible? due to infertility, however, according to research by the Brazilian Society of Human Reproduction, both men and women are each responsible for 40% of the difficulty of getting pregnant and the remaining 20% are cases in which both simultaneously have fertility problems.
Therefore, the important thing is to know when to look for help instead of promoting psychological distress by unreasonably analyzing a possible "culprit".
When to seek assistance from assisted reproduction
- Couple who have sex at least twice a week for at least one year without contraceptive methods and pregnancy does not occur;
- Women over 35 years old;
- Women with irregular or absent menstruation, endometriosis or painful menstruation;
- Women who have had two or more miscarriages;
- Men who have had prostate infections;
- Men with low or malformed sperm;
- History of sexually transmitted disease in one partner;
- History of pelvic or genital infection in one partner;
- Previous abdominal surgery on one partner;
- Reversal of surgical sterilization in one partner;
- Diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic diseases in one partner;
- History of chemotherapy or radiotherapy in one of the partners.
What are the methods of assisted reproduction and how do they work?
Assisted reproduction methods are divided into two groups: artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization.
Artificial insemination is an older method in which fertilization takes place inside a woman's body by inoculating a sperm into the female genital tract, called Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.
In vitro fertilization is a more modern technique in which eggs and sperm are removed for external fertilization. It can be done in several ways:
- Intratubial Gamete Transfer: A technique that consists of transferring the male and female gametes directly into the woman's fallopian tube. When the gametes used are the couple's own technique is supported by the Catholic Church;
- Intratubial Transvaginal Embryo Transfer: A technique that transfers a pre-nuclear embryo already formed at the height of the fallopian tubes vaginally;
- Intrauterine Artificial Insemination: Occurs by the vaginal placement of sperm directly at the height of the fallopian tube.
Assisted reproduction processes may also include donation of eggs, semen and embryos; freezing of reproductive biological material and embryos; and preimplantation genetic diagnosis? to prevent genetic diseases in the future baby, contributing to greater pregnancy success.
It has to be understood that although research has shown that from a single treatment cycle 32% of success has already been achieved, expectations for immediate success should not be created. Assisted reproduction is a complex process and the couple must be balanced and harmonized. Psychologically, if possible, it is interesting to have the help of a psychologist.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) | Infertility (April 2024)
- Pregnancy
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