Rockhurst University biomedical science

Assisted Reproductive Technologies, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), often involve the use of hormones to stimulate a woman's ovaries to produce multiple egg-bearing follicles. The eggs are removed from the ripened follicles and transferred to a special media, where sperm are introduced. If fertilization occurs and viable embryos are produced, a limited number are transferred directly into the uterus. Pre-implantation genetic screening is used in conjunction with embryo biopsy to scan for disorders such as hemophilia and cystic fibrosis.

As a result of ovarian failure due to aging, or certain degenerative diseases, some women are unable to produce healthy eggs. In these cases, IVF can be an option if oocytes are obtained from qualified donors. Alternatively, surgery may be recommend prior to other fertility treatments. The latest endoscopic techniques include laparoscopy, tubal reversal, and tubal cannulation. Many male infertility cases can be corrected with surgical treatments such as testicular biopsy, vasectomy reversal, and epididymal repair. Patients must undergo basic testing prior to initiating fertility-enhancing treatment.