Question

Case studies of some couples are given below. They were not able to have kids even though the parents were not taking any precautions. They also do not wish to adopt a child or take the help of donors. Study these cases and suggest an appropriate Assisted Reproductive Technology that could help them.
Case I -- Female -- Normal Reports; Male -- Normal sperms but no connection between epididymis and vas deferens.
Case II -- Female -- Normal eggs but Fallopian tube blocked. Male -- Normal sperms. Male reports are normal.
Case III -- Female -- Normal Reports. Male -- Low sperm count with less motility.

Hint:

If the problem is delivery/count of sperm \(\rightarrow\) AI/IUI.
If the problem is tubal blockage \(\rightarrow\) IVF/ZIFT.
If the problem is severe male factor/blockage \(\rightarrow\) ICSI.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Infertility cases can be resolved using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) depending on the specific physiological hurdle identified in the male or female partner.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Case I: The male has a structural blockage (no connection between epididymis and vas deferens), meaning sperms are produced but cannot be ejaculated. Since they don't want a donor, sperms can be surgically collected from the testes or epididymis. These sperms are then directly injected into the ovum using ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection).
Case II: The female has blocked fallopian tubes, preventing natural fertilization. Since her eggs and the male's sperms are normal, fertilization can be performed in a lab (In Vitro). The resulting embryo can then be transferred to the uterus or fallopian tube (beyond the block). This is IVF-ET (In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer), specifically ZIFT (Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer) if transferred early.
Case III: The male has oligozoospermia (low count) and asthenozoospermia (low motility). To overcome this, sperms can be concentrated and introduced directly into the female's reproductive tract (vagina or uterus). This is AI (Artificial Insemination) or IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Case I: ICSI.
Case II: IVF-ET / ZIFT.
Case III: IUI / AI.