Human fertilization process is the union of a humanoid egg and sperm, usually occurring in the ampulla of the uterine tube. The result of this union is the production of a zygote, or fertilized egg, initiating prenatal development. The process of fertilization / human fertility involves a sperm fusing with an ovum—usually following ejaculation during copulation. Upon encountering the ovum, the acrosome of the sperm produces enzymes which allow it to burrow through the outer jelly coat of the egg. The sperm plasma then fuses with the egg's plasma membrane. It is possible for fertilization to occur without copulation, through artificial insemination or In vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization - IVF is a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb, in vitro.

OVULATION:

What is ovulation? How to calculate ovulation? What is ovulation calendar and ‘Fertile days’ for women?

Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are awaiting ovulation to begin. Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation. The ovulation process is important if subsequent fertilization / fertilization is to take place. The menstrual cycle or the ovulation cycle in a woman is measured from the first day of her menstrual period until the first day of her next period. On average, a woman's ovulation cycle normally is between 28-32 days, but some women may have much shorter cycles or much longer ones. Ovulation calculator – ovulation calendar can be calculated by starting with the day the last menstrual period (LMP) starts or by calculating 12-16 days from the next expected period. According to calculation, most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 - Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of the LMP. This is what many refer to as the "fertile time" of a woman's cycle, because sexual intercourse during this time increases the chance of pregnancy. Ovulation can occur at various times during a cycle. This is an exquisitely timed phenomenon dependent on a host of hormonal interactions involving a variety of endocrine glands. The ovulation cycle is divided in to two phases – follicular phase and Luteal phase.

Fertilization / Fertilisation

Following ovulation, the ovum with its cumulus oophorus cells are picked up by the fimbria of the fallopian tube. The ovum has now formed the first polar body. It remains in the ampulla portion of the tube and is viable for about 18 to 24 hours. If fertilization does not occur, the ovum disintegrates and is destroyed by the tube. Sperm will remain viable in the female reproductive tract for about 48 hours, although this can be quite variable. Sperm present in the ampulla meet the cumulus oophorus mass and penetrate by chemical and mechanical means to reach the zona pellucida. One sperm penetrates the zona pellucida, the second polar body is formed, and the nuclear material of the sperm enters the vitelline membrane. The diploid chromosome number is re-established, and mitotic cell division occurs.

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION / FERTILISATION IN VITRO / IVF

What is In vitro fertilization / In vitro fertilization / Test tube baby / IVF?

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) / IN vitro Fertilization is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the body: in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman's ovaries and letting sperm fertilise / Fertilize them in a fluid medium. The fertilised / Fertilized egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient's uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy. IVF may be used to overcome female infertility in the woman due to problems of the fallopian tube, making fertilisation in vivo difficult. It may also assist in male infertility, where there is defect in the sperm quality, and in such cases intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure may be used, where a sperm cell is injected directly into the egg cell. This is used when sperm have difficulty penetrating the egg, and in these cases the partner's or a donor's sperm may be used. ICSI is also used when sperm numbers are very low. ICSI results in success rates equal to those of IVF.

For IVF to be successful it typically requires healthy ova, sperm that can fertilise fertilize, and a uterus that can maintain a pregnancy.

IVF can also be used with egg donation or surrogacy; donor egg IVF is the process where the woman providing the egg (Egg donor) isn't the same who will carry the pregnancy to term. This means that IVF can be used for females who have already gone through menopause. The donated oocyte can be fertilised in a crucible. If the fertilisation is successful, the embryo will be transferred into the uterus of the lady requiring the assisted reproduction or to a surrogate mother (Surrogacy IVF), within which it may implant and develop.

IVF can also be combined with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to rule out presence of any genetic disorders through a test called Preimplantation Genetic Haplotyping.

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You are welcome to write to Bless Health Care team at: blesshealthcare@gmail.com

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