Is there any way than sex for making a baby?

Question

I keep asking on my mind. Is there any way than sex? Or its just sex?

Answer 1

No, there are other ways, for those who don't want to, or can't, have a child though sex. There's artificial insemination, in which they take both partners reproductive cells, fertilize them outside the body, then put them back in the body. For homosexual couples in many areas this is the only way to have a child because they're banned from adopting.

Answer 2

There are medical clinics that do artificial insemination or test tube babies or other various things that aren't sex to make babies.

But if you mean is there anything you and your partner can do at home other than sex to make a baby - sorry, nope.

Answer 3

Artificial Insemenation.
☆

Answer 4

yes you can have a baby without having a sex that method is artificial insemination.

Answer 5

yup. the IVF method

Answer 6

go to the sperm bank you just won't know who the daddy is

Answer 7

no

Answer 8

IVF

Answer 9

Conventional or standard IVF treatment involves the administration of fertility drugs, monitoring of the cycle, collection of eggs, mixing eggs and sperm together outside the woman's body in a culture dish or test-tube. Any resulting embryos are left to grow and the best 2-3 embryos are then transferred into the woman's womb. Any remaining embryos of good quality may then be frozen for future use. In the United Kingdom a maximum of three embryos are replaced.

The original indication for IVF was tubal damage, but it is now used for a wide range of disorders such as unexplained infertility, endometriosis, male factor infertility, failure to conceive after 12 cycles of successful ovulation induction, failure to conceive after 6 cycles of intrauterine insemination etc.

IVF procedure
Preliminary testing


When attending an IVF clinic for the first time, the doctor will conduct a consultation. He or she will review in depth the past medical history, conduct physical and internal examination and your doctor may perform a 'dummy' embryo transfer to make sure there is no technical problems with the procedure. The doctor may order some investigations before proceeding with treatment.

These usually include:

Semen analysis. For men who have difficulty in producing semen samples on demand, the doctor may recommend that semen is produced at a convenient time and then frozen and stored prior to IVF treatment as a 'back up' just in case the male partner is unable to perform on the day of egg collection.
Blood hormone tests to assess the female partners response to fertility drugs.
Blood test to check for immunity to German measles.
In some women, hysteroscopy or HSG may be ordered to inspect the uterine cavity.
Screening for chlamydia infection is usually considered if the patient is at risk.
Some clinics will require screening both partners for HIV, hepatitis B and Hepatitis C and only accept the couple for treatment if the tests results are negative.

Before a couple starts IVF treatment, they should be issued with consent forms and information sheets about their treatment. In addition, in the United Kingdom, couples are given HFEA consent forms to fill in.

The consents are complex documents. We recommend that you read them carefully, do no hesitate to ask for help from your doctor or the clinic’s co-ordinator if there is anything you can not fully understand.

You should only give your consent after you are satisfied that you understand what you are agreeing to.

Superovulation involves the use of fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries. The aim is to grow several mature eggs rather than a single egg that normally develops each month. With the introduction of cryopreservation, excess embryos can now be stored so that the woman does not have to go through ovarian stimulation and egg collection each cycle.

Some IVF clinics carry out natural cycle IVF treatments; this does not employ fertility drugs. However, with only one egg is usually obtained; the pregnancy rate per treatment cycle initiated is much lower than when superovulation is used. Obviously there will be no additional cost for medication. Natural cycle IVF is not recommended, except in special circumstances such as when gonadotropins are contraindicated. Women who have had breast cancer which is estrogen receptor positive may be offered natural cycle IVF.

A number of different drugs and protocols are used in the treatment. Because the treatment is individualized, a couple may find out that their drugs and protocols differ from other couples. This is quite normal.

The duration of treatment also varies with the drug regimen and ranges from 2-4 weeks. During the treatment, the patients usually attend the clinic for about 2-4 visits for monitoring.

Some of the commonly used drugs include:

Clomiphene tablets and hCG
FSH and/or hMG and hCG
GnRh analogues (agonist or antagonist) and FSH or hMG and hCG
The first two drug regimens are not often used nowadays in IVF stimulation. But are usually used for standard ovulation induction with or without intrauterine insemination.

The most commonly used protocol for IVF involves giving a drug called gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue either by daily injection e.g. busereline, lupron or a long-acting injection such as zoladex or as a nasal spray. The logic behind giving the agonist is to temporarily suppress the woman's natural hormones (down-regulation) and allows for greater control over the treatment cycle. There are different protocols for administering these drugs; each has its pros and cons.

Currently, the long protocol is preferred because it is more convenient and has shown superior efficacy. The agonist usually started around day 21 of the cycle preceding IVF cycle. Symptoms such as hot flushes, headaches, mood changes and night sweats may be noticed. These symptoms usually last for a relatively short period of time and will usually disappear once the hormonal injections have started.

Approximately two weeks after the start of GnRh agonist a vaginal ultrasound scan will be performed to ensure that the ovaries are inactive and that the lining of the womb is thin. A blood test may also be required to estimate the hormone levels in order to ensure down regulation.

After achieving "down regulation" it is common to be advised to continue to take GnRh agonist but to reduce the dose to maintenance and to begin to take gonadotropin injections such as FSH and or hMG injections to stimulate the ovaries . The initial dosage of the injections will be chosen to suit each individual. The injections are usually given once a day for about 10-12 days. The dose of the gonadotropin is adjusted later depending on the response. The use of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists may allow for shorter treatment cycles and lower doses of gonadotropin injections but are associated with lower pregnancy rates. Urine derived purified gonadotropins and recombinant FSH are equally effective when used with down-regulation.

One of the biggest advantages of giving purified or recombinant gonadotropins is that it is more convenient to the patient because they are administered simply by subcutaneous injection (with a very short needle into the fat just under the skin) using an auto injector. Most women learn to give their own injections, this is advantageous as it reduces the number of clinic visits.

The committee on the saftey of medicine in the United Kingdom has advised that no medical products using urine sourced in a country which has reported case(s) of the variant form of human Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease be used for treatment. This includes Metrodin high purity (February 2004).

If fewer than three mature follicles develop, the outcome of the treatment is likely to be poor and in most cases the doctor will advise canceling the treatment cycle. Conversely, some women over respond producing many follicles and are at risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

There are several aims when monitoring the treatment cycle. These include: checking the development of follicles and lining of the uterus, to adjust the dose of the drugs if necessary and to time the hCG injection. Each patient is different, so the ovarian response varies between patients both in the number of follicles produced and the speed at which they mature. On average, you need to attend the clinic for two or three visits and occasionally more to see how well you have responded to the injection and adjust the dose of the injections accordingly.

The development of the follicles is routinely monitored using serial ultrasound scans (preferably vaginal scan as it gives a better image than abdominal scan). The number of follicles is counted and the diameters of the growing follicles are measured. The ultrasound is also used to measure the thickness of the endometrium and assess its quality for implantation of the embryo. Serial blood samples may also be taken to measure the levels of estrogen and sometimes LH and progesterone. Estrogen production increases as the follicles develop.

After about 10-12 days of the gonadotropin injections, the follicles will almost be mature. When the ultrasound scan indicates a reasonable size and number of follicles and the diameter of the leading follicles is greater than 18 mm. In addition, the lining of the womb is of good thickness and quality. The estrogen levels correspond to the number of growing follicle. You will be asked to stop both the GnRh agonist and the FSH/hMG injections and a different type of injection called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is given in a dose of 5000-10000 iu (recombinant hCG is as effective as urinary hCG). The injection is essential because it simulates the woman’s natural LH surge. This surge also initiates the final growth spurt of the eggs. hCG injection is carefully timed and is usually given at night to allow egg collection to be performed at a convenient time, about 36 hours later. The number of follicles is no guarantee of the number of the eggs that will be collected.

About 5-10% of the treatment cycles would be expected to be cancelled mainly because of poor response to the ovulation drugs. The problem of a poor response is common in older women and in women with elevated FSH levels. If the Fallopian tubes are normal and there is no severe male factor infertility problem, your doctor may advise about converting your cycle to an intrauterine insemination cycle.

This is usually performed in the morning or early afternoon, approximately 36 hours after the hCG injection. Some clinics allow the male partner to attend the egg collection procedure if their wives have the operation under sedation. A monitor connected to the microscope will allow you to view the eggs when collected.

Methods of egg collection
Several methods can be employed to collect the eggs, these include:

Vaginal ultrasound guided egg collection
This is the most common technique; it is a minor and safe surgical procedure usually performed under sedation or a general anesthetic. Sedation is a safe and ecceptable method of providing pain relief for egg collection.

A vaginal ultrasound probe with a fine hollow needle attached to it, is inserted into the vagina. Under ultrasound guidance, the needle is then advanced from the vaginal wall into the ovary to suck out the fluid from the follicle which contains the egg. Each egg is removed in turn through the needle by a suction device. Follicle flushing is not associated with improvement in pregnancy rates or the number of eggs collected, but does increase the duration of the procedure and associated pains. The whole procedure takes about 20-30 minutes.

You may experience some mild discomfort following the procedure, but this will be relieved with painkillers. Antibiotic is usually given to prevent infection.



Abdominal ultrasound guided egg collection
Occasionally, egg collection is performed by passing a needle through the abdominal wall into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance. This is usually performed if the ovaries are abnormally placed.

Laparoscopy
Originally, eggs were always collected laparoscopically. This method of egg collection is hardly ever used nowadays, as it requires a general anesthetic, in addition to the risks of laparoscopy.

The average number of eggs collected is about 12 depending upon the number of follicles present. Not every follicle contains an egg. Occasionally, no eggs are collected, so-called “empty follicle syndrome”. The reported incidence is about 1%. Sometimes, giving another dose of hCG and scheduling another egg collection 24 hours later could salvage the cycle. The cause of empty follicle syndrome is unknown, but it is possible that it is a drug related rather than a clinical problem.

What happens after egg collection?
Pain
The patient may experience pain. It is not unusual for women to experience some abdominal or pelvic pain. A hot water bottle or painkillers are often helpful. However, if the pain is severe, or persists, then you should consult your doctor.

Bleeding
The patients may have to wear panty liners for a day or two following egg collection. Any bleeding should be minimal and dark or brown in colour. If bleeding is severe or bright red then consult your doctor.

Nausea and vomiting
The patient may experience nausea or vomiting for the first 24 hours following egg collection. This is usually a side-effect of the drugs given (anaesthetics or pain killers). If the nausea or vomiting persists, the you should consult your doctor.

Activities
You are advised to rest during the first 24 hours following surgery and must not operate any machinery such as a car or cooker. Furthermore, a responsible adult must be available to look after you during this period.

IVF procedure
Fertilization (Fertilisation)
The term in-vitro fertilization is derived from Latin in-vitro meaning glass because the eggs are fertilized in laboratory glassware. On the day of egg collection, the male partner is asked to provide a semen sample. He collects his semen by masturbation unless there has been other arrangements.

The sperm is washed in a culture medium and prepared in order to separate the sperm from seminal plasma. If a donor sperm is to be used, the sample will then taken from the freezer, thawed and prepared.



The eggs are collected into a specially prepared culture medium and once collected, they are examined under the microscope and each is graded for maturity, the maturity of an egg will determine when the sperm will be added to it. The eggs are then placed in the incubator for a period of time (about 3-8 hours) before it is mixed with the selected sperm.

Between 20000-30000 sperm are mixed with each egg in a drop of specially prepared culture medium. This medium is prepared in a labeled dish that is kept in the incubator to allow fertilization to occur. The first sign of fertilization is the presence of two small dots inside the egg so-called “two- pronucleate” and the fertilized egg is called zygote. The two pronuclei, one came from the sperm and one came from the egg. Occasionally the egg is fertilized abnormally with more than two pronuclei. Although this embryo may go on to divide, they are not viable and should not be replaced. Usually about 60-70% of the eggs collected will be fertilized, but this can vary from 0% to 100%. Regrettably, some 5-10% of couples will not achieve fertilization of any eggs. This could be due to, sperm lacking the fertilizing capacity, or poor egg quality or poor culture medium. However, in about 50% of the cases there is no obvious cause.

It takes about 18 hours for the egg to be fertilized, about 12 hours later the fertilized egg start to divide into two cells, and subsequently into four and so on. After about 48-72 hours from the egg collection, the embryos will usually consist of 4-8 cells each, and ready for replacement into the woman ‘s uterus.There is no significant difference in the expected pregnancy rates if the embryos are replaced on day two or three after egg collection. Sometimes, the embryos fail to develop even though they have fertilized normally and in this case; a transfer would not be made.

The embryo replacement (embryo transfer) procedure is quite simple and usually pain free. It may cause minimal discomfort and no anesthetic is used, although some women may need sedation or occasionally a general anesthetic. The male partner is usually invited to attend the procedure. The couple may also be able to view the embryos through a monitor before the embryos are replaced.

Some couples are concerned that their eggs, sperm or embryos may mix up with that of other couples. The probability of this happening in a good centre is very low.

The patient lies on a table or bed, usually with her feet in stirrups, some times the embryo transfer is performed with the patient in the knee-chest position. Using a vaginal speculum, the doctor exposes the cervix. The cervix is then cleaned with a little of culture medium or sterile water. One or more embryos suspended in a drop of culture medium are loaded in a fine plastic catheter so-called “embryo transfer catheter” with a syringe on one end. Gently and carefully, the doctor guides the tip of the catheter through the vagina and cervix, and deposits the embryos into the uterine cavity. The procedure may be guided by ultrasound scan to check the position of the catheter. The sue of ultrasound scan during embryo transfer appears to increase pregnancy rates. After the catheter is removed, it is handed over to the embryologist who will check it to ensure that no embryos remains. All the embryos replaced are transferred at the same time. Implantation begins three to four days later.

Successful pregnancy is related to the ease with which the embryos are transferred into the womb. Occasionally the position of the womb can make the transfer difficult. This may be overcome , to an extent, by a full bladder. A tenaculum may be applied to the cervix to straighten the uterus. If this fails, the doctor may use a stylet to negotiate the cervical canal. Very rarely, the cervix is to tight to allow the embryo catheter to pass through. In this case the doctor may resort to transferring the embryos through the muscle of the uterus (transmyometrial) or through the Fallopian tube if the tubes are healthy (TET).