Couples currently struggling with fertility have more options than ever when it comes to technology that can aid them in their quest to become parents. Apart from the established in vitro fertilization that has been helping couples have children since the late 70s, there have been several options made available in the decades that have passed.

Here are some of the ART you and your partner should consider when discussing your fertility options, both individually and as a couple.

IVF is a popular option amongst couples who have histories of unsuccessful conception attempts. A lot of the time, both the woman and the man are in good reproductive health in terms of producing eggs and sperm, but there are particular factors that keep the egg from getting fertilized, such as the lack of sperm in the semen due to a blockage or medical conditions such as Endometriosis causing physical obstructions in the uterus.

The egg and sperm are extracted directly from the sources, the ovaries for the woman and the testicles for the man if he is asked to undergo testicular sperm extraction. Because of this, it can be made sure that the egg and the sperm acquired are of good quality and enough quantity to provide the best chances of conception.

Cryopreservation is now becoming a widely considered option among women, and understandably so as aging impacts female fertility greatly. 

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the quality of a woman’s eggs changes dramatically by as early as 35 years old. With that, those who are in their late 20s and early 30s may want to preserve the optimal state of their eggs at present with egg freezing. 

Freezing for men may be not as common but is still widely practiced, especially for men who plan to undergo a vasectomy or any other procedure that could affect their ability to produce sperm (although even after a vasectomy, they will still be able to produce sperm so long as they are in reproductively healthy).

Couples who are actually planning to undergo IVF more than once may find embryo freezing to make things a lot more convenient. Aside from the benefit that they won’t have to undergo the entire process such as egg extraction, sperm injection, etc., there is better assurance as to the reproductive potential of the embryos since A.) the couple were younger at the time they egg and sperm were extracted for fertilization, and B.) the fact that these embryos were successfully created mean there is a greater chance that they will successfully be carried into term. 

For other couples who’ve had trouble with the embryo implantation aspect assisted hatching may be of assistance. For an embryo to successfully implant itself into the uterine wall, it must be able to break out of its protective shell and expand. For other embryos, the shell may be thicker, and the embryo has trouble breaking out of it.

With assisted hatching, a small part of the protective shell will be thinned to make breaking out and attachment easier for the embryo.

There is definitely a great number of options available for budding parents today. The best first step to take is to consult with your fertility specialist regarding which one is best for you as you go on your journey to becoming a parent. 

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