How gender selection methods work?

PGD and PGH are procedures that can weed out genetically defective human pre-embryos before they have a chance start a pregnancy. The procedure is usually requested by prospective parents who are concerned about passing a serious genetically-based disease or disorder to their child.

Typically:

• One or both partners have been genetically screened previously, and found to be a carrier, or
• One or both partners are from a human population known to have a high incidence of a genetically-based disease or disorder.

If an embryo is found to be genetically defective, it is normally destroyed. This produces a very serious concern for many pro-life supporters who believe that every pre-embryo, embryo and fetus is a human person. Destruction of a pre-embryo is considered a form of murder.

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is recommended when couples are at risk of transmitting a known genetic abnormality to their children. Only healthy and normal embryos are transferred into the mother's uterus, thus diminishing the risk of inheriting a genetic abnormality and decreasing the risk for adverse outcomes such as early and late miscarriage and late pregnancy termination (after positive prenatal diagnosis).

The Technique that can be used to determine a baby's sex is pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This procedure is regulated by the HFEA and carried out by licensed clinics, but is used for medical purposes only. First, embryos are created using in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The genes of these embryos are then analysed and only those of the desired sex are re-implanted in the woman's uterus. PGD is usually only used when parents are at risk of having a baby with a serious genetic condition that only affects one sex.

Primary candidates for PGD include the following:

• Couples with a family history of X-linked disorders (Couples with a family history of X-linked disease have a 25% risk of having an affected embryo [half of male embryos].)
• Couples with chromosome translocations, which can cause implantation failure, recurrent pregnancy loss, or mental or physical problems in offspring 
• Carriers of autosomal recessive diseases (For carriers of autosomal recessive diseases, the risk an embryo may be affected is 25%.)
• Carriers of autosomal dominant diseases (For carriers of autosomal dominant disease, the risk an embryo may be affected is 50%.)

It's not science fiction. Nowadays prospective parents can not only know the sex of their unborn child but also learn whether it can supply tissue-matched bone marrow to a dying sibling and whether it is predisposed to develop breast cancer or Huntington's disease -- all before the embryo gets implanted into the mother's womb.

"What I think the public doesn't understand is that this technology is not in the distant future," said Stanford law Professor Hank Greely, kicking off a Feb. 27 conference that explored the controversial topic at the crossroads of human genetics and reproduction: pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Presented by the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences, a new program directed by Greely, the conference drew more than 100 people to hear a panel of eight nationally known law professors, bioethicists and biomedical research scientists discuss whether California should regulate PGD.

Gender Selection Methods Comparison

BBT Technique

BBT mapping technique is the key element in both methods. Every morning a temperature reading is taken just after wake up. Your first temperature should be taken starting with day one of your cycle. Day one of your cycle is the first day you begin your menstrual period.

The idea behind gender selection with the Whelan Method is to have intercourse four to six days before your basal body temperature goes up if you desire a boy and two to three days before you ovulate for a girl.

Whelan vs. Shettles

There are two most famous methods are Gender Selection. One is called Shettles Method and other is called Whelan method. Both methods have some benefits over other method.

The Whelan method was developed by Elizabeth Whelan. According to this method the timing of intercourse affects whether women would be pregnant or not. Women ovulate one time during a month. To get pregnant, it is important to intercourse just before the ovulation.

In Whelan method, on certain times, sperm with Y chromosomes (determine boys) more likely to fertilize an egg than X chromosomes (determine girls).

Dr Whelan also recommends basal body temperature (BBT) method to determine when ovulation is happening. The body temperature of a woman rises during at a certain pattern at the time of ovulation.

1. Attempt conception from the end of your period until 3 days before your ovulate. This is based on the theory that male sperm only live 12-24 hours and female sperm live can live up to 3-4 days. (Shettles Method)

2. Use the missionary position. (Shettles Method)

3. Attempt conception in the 12 hours after ovulation. (O+12 Method, Whalen Method)

4. Take calcium and magnesium supplements for several months prior to conception.

5. Conceive in the afternoon or during a full moon.

6. Try to conceive your baby on an even numbered day.

7. Eat chocolate.

8. Use the Chinese conception chart to help you plan the conception date.

9. Put a pink ribbon under your pillow and a wooden spoon under your bed.

10. Take cranberry capsules for the week before you ovulate. This lowers the pH level in the reproductive tract, which harms male sperm.

Remember that no matter what anyone else tells you, unless you are planning to use PGD or MicroSort, there is no reliable way to insure that you will be able to select the gender of your child.

===============

There is no foolproof method to naturally conceiving a boy. However, these tips can show you how to increase the chances of conceiving a baby boy.

1. Attempting conception no more than 24 hours prior to or 12 hours after ovulation is believed to be the best time to conceive a boy. (Shettles Method)

2. Attempt conception 4 to 6 days prior to ovulation. (Whelan method)

3. Use the Chinese Birth Chart to determine what month you should try to conceive a baby boy. Remember to use your lunar month and the lunar month of conception.

4. Take Evening Primrose supplements to increase the quality of cervical mucus. This is thought to increase the chances that you will conceive a son.

5. Take Guaifenesin pills for several days prior to ovulation. This will thin cervical mucus and make it easier conceive a boy. The methods described above are based on some scientific reasoning.

The following are urban myths and folklore, but it would not hurt to try them.

6. The man should drink coffee prior to intercourse because it makes Y-sperm more active.

7. Try to conceive only on odd days of the month.

8. Eat a “male” diet consisting of red meat, salty foods and plenty of soft drinks. Consumption of beer or other alcoholic beverages is not recommended during the time you are trying to conceive a baby or during pregnancy.

Other Methods of Gender Selection

There are only two scientifically reliable methods of choosing the gender of your child, PGD and sperm sorting. However, those methods do not involve the natural conception of a child. If you are trying to conceive a girl the old-fashioned way, these methods may be able to help you out. There are varying reports of their reliability.

Home Methods and Techniques to Conceive a Baby Boy

When I was young and idealistic, I wanted to get married and give birth to six sons. I don't recall my reasoning behind the number or the preferred sex. Six sons would have been three short of a baseball team. And if the popularity of
"The Brady Bunch" had anything to do with my dream, then I couldn't figure out why I wouldn't want to be a Mom to a cute little Marcia, Jan, or Cindy. There are many personal reasons why couples want to have one sex of a baby over the other. And whatever the reasons, if you have a preference, then you need to know some homemade ways to conceive a baby boy.

Medical science has come up with a sure-fire method of allowing us to determine the sex of our babies. It's called "Test Tube Conception." It's rather an impersonal way to conceive a child. Because, as the name implies, conception takes place in a test tube. But, if you have the desire and the finances to pay for this type of laboratory intervention, then you can be assured of the sex of your baby.

The majority of the population must rely on homemade ways to conceive a baby boy instead. While some of these methods may not be "scientific", and they seem to be purely "folklore", others do have some medical merit to them.

For example, it's been said that, in order to conceive a baby boy, you should have sex during the nighttime hours instead of in the daytime. This is an interesting concept, since, presumably, couples do prefer to "dance in the dark." And, according to statistics, there are more male babies born than females. For every 100 baby girls born, there are approximately 105 baby boys.

Other homemade ways to conceive a baby boy include having sex on odd-numbered days of the month, making love while standing up, (but having the woman lie down immediately afterwards), having the woman eat more meat and salty foods, and drinking large quantities of tea and coffee.

Also, if the man is the one who initiates the sex, and he climaxes first during intercourse, then a baby boy is supposed to be conceived.

While most of these homemade ways may sound like pure fiction, a woman's eating habits prior to conception may actually help determine the sex of her baby. This idea is based on the scientific theory that there are four minerals in a woman's body.
These minerals are sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The amount of each mineral in a woman's body is thought to affect the fertilization of the egg during intercourse.

Therefore, if you want to conceive a baby boy, you should avoid drinking milk and eating dairy products in order to keep your calcium and magnesium levels lower. Instead, according to this theory, you should enjoy plenty of foods that contain sodium and potassium, such as salty snacks and bananas.

Another homemade way to conceive a baby boy is for the woman to change the chemical environment of her vagina before having sex. This idea is based on the theory that female sperm thrives in acidic environments, while male sperm do better in non-acidic climates. To make the vagina less acidic, right before a woman has sexual intercourse, she should douche with a mixture of water and baking soda. Mix together a pint of water and about a half ounce of the soda thoroughly.

Naturally, a woman has a fifty/fifty chance of giving birth to a baby boy. But, these homemade ways to conceive a baby boy may actually improve your chances, and swing the pendulum into the favor of having a male child.

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Timeline of Research in Infertility Treatment

3rd century AD: Records show that Jewish thinkers discussing
possibility of accidental or unintentional human insemination by
artificial means.

14th century AD: Accounts of Arab peoples using artificial
insemination on horses.

1777: Italian priest began experiments with artificial insemination of reptiles.

1785: First attempts at human artificial insemination by John Hunter -
a baby is born the same year.

1890: Robert Dickinson begins experimenting with donor sperm, although
his work is carried out in secret because of the condemnation of the
Church.

1945: Early reports of donor insemination published in the British
Medical Journal (BMJ).

1955: Four successful pregnancies using previously frozen sperm.

1960s: Big increase in knowledge of ovarian stimulants, how eggs
mature, ovulation, fertilisation and the growth of the embryo in
vitro, safer and better laparoscopy.

1969: Human fertilisation in vitro is achieved for the first time.

1977: First IVF pregnancy - but it is ectopic.

1978: Birth of Louise Brown, the first 'test tube' baby born as a result of IVF.

1980: Two Australian teams succeed in IVF deliveries after
drug-induced superovulation in the mother.

1988/9: GIFT introduced and the first successful pregnancies achieved.

1990: Human Fertility and Embryology Act in the UK and the setting up
of the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority.

1992: Rosanna della Corte gives birth to a son, Riccardo, at the age
of 62 after IVF treatment by Severino Antinori. First pregnancy as a
result of ICSI.

1997: The birth of Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal

2000: The culture of embryonic stem cells, some from 'spare' embryos
donated by couples who have had successful IVF treatment, opens the
way to 'made-to-order' tissue for transplant surgery.

2001: Teams in the US and Italy announce that they are working on
producing the first human clone.

2002: Severino Antinori, best known for his work in enabling
post-menopausal women to have babies, claims that three human cloned
pregnancies are taking place, two in Russia and one in 'an Islamic
country'.

2004: A controversial US fertility specialist who says he has
implanted a cloned embryo into a woman's womb has been condemned as
"irresponsible" by scientists. Dr Panos Zavos gave few details and no
evidence, and said it was still too early to tell if the procedure had
resulted in pregnancy

What is infertility?

For lots of people, having babies is very easy - in fact many people spend years trying to avoid pregnancy, using different methods of contraception to make sure that sperm and eggs don't meet by accident. But what happens if pregnancy and babies don't happen when we want them to?

Infertility has always been an issue - Henry VIII got rid of several wives who could not produce him the son and heir he so desperately wanted! The lives of many ordinary people have also been blighted by the inability to have a much wanted child. Although there are many different causes of infertility, for centuries the solutions were few and far between - adopting a child or becoming resigned to childlessness were the main options.

It is almost inevitable that, if a couple cannot have a child, they wonder whose 'fault' it is. For centuries, it was assumed that childlessness was the woman's fault - in the words of the Christian Bible, she was barren. We now know better! Failing to get pregnant can be the result of problems in either partner, or even both.

In about a third of all cases of infertility there is indeed a problem in the way that the body of the woman is working. However in about another third, or even more, it is the reproductive system of the man which is not functioning as it should. The final third of infertility cases are either the result of both the man and the woman in a couple being a bit less fertile than normal, or - the most puzzling of all - both couples are theoretically healthy but pregnancy just doesn't happen.

Female infertility

To find out why a woman is not conceiving doctors look for both physical and chemical causes. One of the first checks will be to see if ovulation is occurring - because no egg = no baby! Sometimes the situation is very stark - there are no eggs in the ovaries so the woman will never conceive naturally. Fortunately this is very rare.

In many women who do not ovulate the cause is easier to deal with. Some women don't make enough FSH to stimulate the release of the ripe eggs from the ovary and others don't make any at all. Synthetic hormones can be used which will replace natural FSH, bringing about ovulation and so, hopefully pregnancy.

The most common female physical problem preventing pregnancy is when the Fallopian tubes are twisted, scarred or blocked in some way. This prevents the sperm from meeting the egg and even more importantly stops the egg, fertilised or not, from travelling along to the uterus. 30% of female infertility is the result of damaged Fallopian tubes.

Sometimes a technique which involves tiny instruments placed into the Fallopian tubes can be used to try and reopen them, but the technique itself can damage the very delicate tubes. When the tubes are badly damaged or blocked then the only hope of a solution is IVF.

Male infertility

There are two crucial factors in male infertility - is the man is producing sperm in his semen, and are they normal, healthy and active? The answer to both of these questions comes from a careful examination of a man's semen.

In normal healthy semen there will be hundreds of millions of sperm. In fact the lowest number of sperm counted as normal is 20 million sperm per cm3 of semen! Once the sperm count falls below this level it begins to affect fertility. If the sperm count is just a bit below normal there are things which a man can do to increase the numbers - all of them very low tech! If the testes get too warm, the level of sperm production falls, so cool showers or baths, baggy underwear and loose clothing can help to increase the sperm count. Cutting out smoking and drinking alcohol - both known to lower the sperm count - can also help increase sperm numbers.

The overall sperm count is important, but the ability of sperm to fertilise eggs successfully depends on more than numbers. For the man to be fertile his sperm need to have actively lashing tails and around 50% of them must swim forward in straight lines rather than round and round in circles.

It is also very important that the semen doesn't contain too many abnormal sperm. Every man produces a certain number of sperm with two heads instead of one, or with two tails, or broken necks. But if the percentage of these abnormal sperm gets too high, then the chances of a successful pregnancy fall.

Overcoming male infertility has not been easy. Until recently the best hope was for the woman to be treated with healthy sperm given by an unknown donor, often mixed with some of her partner's sperm. However, some of the latest developments of IVF involve using a single normal sperm and injecting it into an egg cell which is then replaced inside the mother to develop. This exciting new development may lead to treatment for almost all men with fertility problems, as the numbers of men who produce no healthy sperm at all is relatively small.

What can we do about it?

In the last fifty years it has become increasingly possible to treat and overcome at least some forms of infertility. A wide variety of options are now available for couples who cannot produce a child naturally. These range from simple tests based on the levels of reproductive hormones in the blood or the urine which make it possible to pinpoint when a woman is most likely to get pregnant, through to techniques such as in vitro fertilisation or IVF.

Like most scientific breakthroughs, our increased ability to control human fertility is something of a mixed blessing. It can bring great personal happiness to couples who would otherwise be unable to have a child. At the same time it also opens up many questions about the embryos which are created and then not needed, and the possibilities for changing the inherited material of the embryos before they are returned to the mother. As new and ever more sophisticated treatments for infertility are discovered, the ethics of each need to be discussed. Yet the driving force behind the whole technology remains the desperate desire of infertile couples to have a child of their own.

IVF - Introduction

Introduction 

Watch this...

Lulu and James Martin talk about their decision to choose IVF treatment after years of trying for a baby, and the physical and emotional challenges they faced

In the UK, one in seven couples who are trying for a baby experience delays in conceiving. Conception is a complex process involving many factors. If one of these factors is impaired, infertility can occur.

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is just one of several assisted conception techniques available to help people with fertility problems to have a baby. It involves an egg being surgically removed from the ovary and fertilised outside the body.

Success rates of IVF

The success rate of IVF is determined to a large degree by the age of the woman undergoing the treatment. Younger women tend to have healthier eggs which increase the chances of success.

The average success rate after one cycle of IVF treatment in the UK is:

• 28% for women who are under 35 years of age,
• 24% for women who are between 35-37 years of age,
• 18% for women who are between 38-39 years of age, and
• 11% for women who are between 40-42 years of age.

IVF is not usually recommended for women who are over the age of 42 because the chances of a successful conception are thought too low to justify the treatment.

IVF on the NHS

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines that were published in 2004 recommend that suitable couples receive up to three cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS. The government added a priority condition that couples with a child, or children, from the current, or previous relationship, should not have access to NHS treatment.

The typical cost of one IVF cycle at a private clinic is £2,500.  However, the rate at which this recommendation is being implemented has varied, and NHS trusts across England and Wales are working to provide the same levels of service.

What is IVF

IVF was developed in the 1970s. The first British test tube baby was Louise Brown, who was born in 1978.

• It involves the women taking fertility drugs to help her produce more eggs.
• The eggs are then harvested and fertilised in the laboratory.
• The woman is given hormone drugs to prepare her womb to receive the fertilised eggs.

The fertilised eggs are placed inside the womb and a normal pregnancy follows.

Are there other forms of assisted fertilisation?

• Yes, there are various techniques, and new advances are being constantly developed.
• One of the most significant advances in IVF in recent years has been the introduction of a technique called ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection).
• This works by injecting a single sperm directly into an egg.
• Some people fear the technique could increase the risk of genetic defects that make the donor infertile being passed on to babies.
• Another alternative is Intrauterine insemination (IUI), which involves putting sperm, which have been sorted for viability, directly into the uterus.
• The aim is to maximise the number of healthy sperm reaching the fallopian tubes and fertilising an egg.
• IUI is often combined with ovarian stimulation to increase egg production and improve the rate of success.

Are there any risks?

• Yes. The fertility drugs used to stimulate egg production can produce side effects.
• In rare instances, the ovaries cannot cope with the increased number of eggs, leading to a condition known as ovarian hyper-stimulaion syndrome.
• In mild forms this causes pain and bloating, but more severe cases can lead to blood clots, and kidney and ovary damage.
• Some assisted conception techniques carry an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilised egg implants in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus.

Are there other problems?

• IVF is only successful in around 23% of cases and success rates vary across the country from clinic to clinic.
• However, success rates have risen sharply in recent years. The chances of success also depend on individual circumstances. For instance, a woman under 35 who is using her own, fresh eggs has nearly a one in three chance of success.
• In contrast, for women over 44 using their own fresh eggs, the success rate is just 0.8%.
• Different procedures also carry different success rates.
• Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published in 2004 recommend that suitable couples receive up to three cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS
• However, several studies suggest that provision on the NHS is much more patchy.
• Private treatment can cost many thousands of pounds.
• Opponents of IVF argue that it falsely raises would-be parents' hopes that they will be able to have a baby when the chances are not that high.
• They also argue that it can be a traumatic experience to go through repeated IVF attempts, only to find that the woman does not get pregnant.
• There have been concerns that, to increase the chances of a successful treatment, IVF clinics have been too reliant on using several embryos per treatment cycle.
• This increases the risk of a multiple pregnancy, which is associated with a higher risk of complications, both for mother and baby.
• Measures have been introduced to limit the number of embryos which are implanted during each IVF treatment to minimise this risk.
• Overall rates of multiple birth in the UK fell from 24% of births in 2005 to 22.7% in 2006.

Who regulates the IVF process?

In the UK, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority regulates and licenses fertility clinics under the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, which is currently under review.

Unexplained Reasons For Infertility

Reasons for infertility

Approximately one in six couples have difficulty achieving a pregnancy. It has been found that female factors are responsible in 30% of cases, male factors account for a further 30%, combined male and female factors account for 20% and the remaining 20% of cases are unexplained.

 

Under normal circumstances, the chances of pregnancy occurring as a result of unprotected intercourse during the fertile time of the cycle are about 25% per month. After 12 months of trying, approximately 80% of couples will have conceived.

Unexplained Reasons for Infertility

Unexplained infertility

Unexplained infertility affects 20-25% of infertile couples. In the majority of these cases, the failure to reach a diagnosis is not due to inadequate investigations, but is probably due to other factors which cannot be assessed using conventional tests. For example, it is not currently possible to determine if the eggs are actually released at the time of supposed ovulation; if the fallopian tubes are able to pick up the eggs; if the sperm are capable of reaching the site of fertilisation; or if the eggs can be fertilised by the sperm.

 In cases of unexplained infertility, assisted conception in the form of IVF is both diagnostic and therapeutic. For example, if the eggs are not released naturally, we release them by performing egg collection; if the tubes are not picking up the eggs, we bypass them when we perform IVF, if the sperm cannot reach the site of fertilisation, we overcome this by placing it with the eggs. Finally, we can confirm fertilisation by IVF.

Female infertility problems

A woman usually produces a single follicle in the ovaries each month as a result of various hormonal changes. Once the egg which develops within the follicle is mature, it is released. The fallopian tube subsequently picks the egg up and moves it towards the uterus. The quality of cervical mucus at the time of ovulation must be such that it allows free passage of the sperm into the uterus.

Common female infertility problems are due to the following:

Metaphase II oocyte

 

• Tubal blockage

• Ovulatory problems

• Polycystic ovaries

• Endometriosis.

Tubal blockage

In normal circumstances, the fallopian tubes act like fishing rods or wicket keepers, picking up the released egg and helping to move it towards the uterus. Damage to the tubes may impede the pick-up or transport of the egg, thereby preventing fertilisation. Greater damage may result in complete tubal blockage.

 

Tubal blockage can occur as a result of any infection which travels up into the tubes from the cervix or uterus, or which arrives at the tubes from other sites in the peritoneal cavity, such as the appendix, or from previous surgery. If fluid collects in the fallopian tube (hydrosalpinx), it may be a potential source of chronic infection. The removal of hydrosalpinx is recommended prior to IVF treatment as this fluid may also be detrimental for the development of the embryo.

 

Some blockages can be treated by micro-surgical techniques, but in other cases pregnancy can only be achieved with IVF.

Ovulatory problems

Ovulatory problems are the most common cause of female infertility and occur as a result of hormonal imbalance. This imbalance may arise either within the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, or in the ovaries. Common causes of this include stress, weight loss or weight gain, excessive prolactin production (the hormone that stimulates milk production in the breasts) and polycystic ovarian disease.

Polycystic ovaries

About 20% of women have polycystic ovaries (PCO). This term describes the appearance, as seen on an ultrasound scan, of an increased number of small cysts under the surface of the ovary. Many women with PCO have normal regular cycles and have no problems conceiving.

However, some women with these ultrasound findings have a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). These women have a hormone imbalance with irregular or absent periods and they may have difficulty conceiving because they are not ovulating regularly.

Treatment in the first instance usually involves the use of drugs to correct the hormone imbalance and to stimulate ovulation. If the woman is overweight, weight loss may also improve the hormonal imbalance. Alternatively, laparoscopic ovarian drilling (making tiny holes on the surface of the ovaries using diathermy or laser) may be performed. In cases of PCOS these two modes of treatment may precede an IVF treatment cycle.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis arises when tissue, which normally lines the womb, is found at other sites in the pelvis. At the time of menstruation, bleeding occurs from this tissue and this may give rise to abdominal pain and painful intercourse. Blood-filled cysts may also develop within the ovaries. These cysts are known as chocolate cysts because of their dark brown appearance. It is not clear why mild to moderate endometriosis is associated with infertility, but there have been suggestions that endometriosis reduces the ability of the tube to pick up the eggs.

 

Ovarian diathermy treatment through the laparoscope is a possible method for improving the fertility of the patient. Drug therapy is not helpful in improving fertility although it is effective in reducing the pain.

 

In cases of extensive endometriosis, especially in the presence of chocolate cysts, surgical correction (laparoscopically or by open surgery) may be required before embarking on IVF treatment.

 

IVF is an appropriate treatment for infertility associated with endometriosis where other methods have failed. Any resulting pregnancy is usually an excellent temporary cure for endometriosis.

Male infertility problems

Sperm are produced in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, from where they move to be matured and stored in the epididymis. This process takes approximately three months to complete. During sexual intercourse the sperm leave the epididymis and travel through the vas deferens where they are mixed with fluid secreted from various glands. This mixture of sperm and seminal fluid (semen) is then deposited in the vagina of the female partner following ejaculation.

 

Causes of male infertility can be divided into two categories; physical abnormalities of the male reproductive tract, such as epididymal or vas obstruction or impaired sperm production and secondly, abnormalities of the sperm themselves. However, in most cases of male infertility the cause is unknown.

 

To determine male fertility we carry out a semen analysis where we test the number, activity and shape of the sperm. A normal assessment should show a sperm count of more than 20 million sperm per millilitre with at least 50% of the sperm actively moving and more than 30% of the sperm of normal shape. They must be capable of moving through the female genital tract to reach the fallopian tube where the egg is fertilised, and so must survive for a period of 24-48 hours.

Common male infertility problems are due to the following:

• Abnormal sperm parameters

• Azoospermia (no sperm in the ejaculate)

• Antisperm antibodies.

Abnormal sperm parameters

Abnormalities in the semen are primarily due to a defect in sperm production by the testicles.

 

The cause of this is usually unknown but occasionally may be associated with previous infections, surgery or excessive drinking. Certain drugs, radiation and radiotherapy may have a detrimental effect on the production of sperm. The presence of a varicocele may lead to a rise in the temperature around the testicles, which may adversely affect sperm production and motility.

Azoospermia

The absence of sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia) may be due to an obstruction at the level of the vas deferens, epididymis, or even at the level of the testes. It may also be due to bilateral congenital absence of the vas. Some men might have testicular failure, i.e. failure of production of sperm. This may be the result of a chromosomal disorder or previous infections such as mumps. It may also be associated with a history of undescended testes. Occasionally azoospermia is due to a lack of hormonal stimulation of the testes by the pituitary gland. This can be diagnosed by hormone blood tests and may be treated with hormone therapy. A testicular biopsy may be recommended to determine whether any sperm are being produced by the testes that could be used in IVF/ICSI treatment.

Antisperm antibodies

There may be antisperm antibodies in the semen which bind to the sperm and impair their motility and their ability to penetrate and fertilise an egg. Antibodies arise following reversal of a vasectomy or other surgery on the male genitals and may also be related to previous infections or injury.

 

Until recently there has been no effective treatment for the majority of male infertility problems discussed above. Drugs rarely improve sperm counts. However, since the introduction of micromanipulative techniques, in particular Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection ( ICSI ), the success rates for couples with male infertility problems have markedly improved. Another option available to the couple is to use sperm from a donor (IUID).

Natural Gender Selection - How to Conceive a Baby Boy Or a Baby Girl

More and more couples are interested in natural gender selection when they are trying to have a baby together. Along with the Shettles Method there are plenty of other ways in which a couple can choose the gender of their child naturally.

One such method that is proving popular and which much research has been carried out on is known as GenSelect. This particular natural gender selection method developed by a group of doctors and which harnesses factors that have been clinically proven to help a couple determine what gender their baby will be.

In fact the controlled studies carried out into this method have shown it to be 96% effective. Yet how effective it will be for a certain couple also depends on how closely they follow the guidelines provided with the GenSelect Kit.

What one needs to be aware of is that there are two kits available. One that helps to increase the chances of them having a baby boy and the other for a baby girl. Although these kits look similar there are some differences between them and below we look at what some of these are.

1. One of them comes with a specialist douche which the woman uses to wash her vagina and reduce the amount of acid in it. By reducing the levels of acid in the vagina the chances of a couple having a boy rather than a girl are greatly increased.

2. Although each kit comes with natural nutraceutical supplements these need to be used in conjunction with a specific diet devised by the doctors who developed the natural gender selection method. Again the alterations in the diet along with taking these supplements is what will increase the chances of a couple having a baby boy rather than a baby girl.

Want To learn More? Would you like more free Tips and advice about other ways of conceiving a boy without the need for spending large amounts of money on gender selection treatment?

Artificial insemination - Intrauterine insemination (Test Tube Baby)

Artificial insemination (AI)  is when sperm is placed into a female's uterus (intrauterine), or cervix (intracervical) using artificial means rather than by natural copulation. Modern techniques for artificial insemination were first developed for the dairy cattle industry to allow many cows to be impregnated with the sperm of a bull with traits for improved milk production.

Artificial insemination is used in animals to propagate desirable characteristics of one male to many females or overcome breeding problems, particularly in the cases of horses, cattle, pigs, pedigreed dogs, and honeybees. Semen is collected, extended, then cooled or frozen. It can be used on site or shipped to the female's location. The small plastic tube holding the frozen semen is referred to as a "straw". To allow the sperm to remain viable during the time before and after it is frozen, the semen is mixed with a solution containing glycerol or other cryoprotectants. An "extender" is a solution that allows the semen from a donor to impregnate more females by making insemination possible with fewer sperm. Antibiotics, such as streptomycin, are sometimes added to the sperm to control some venereal diseases.

Artificial insemination of farm animals is very common in today's agriculture industry, especially for breeding dairy cattle (75% of all inseminations) and swine (up to 85% of all inseminations). It provides an economical means for a livestock grower to breed their herds with males having very desirable traits.

Human Artificial Insemination

In humans artificial insemination is usually part of an infertility treatment; either the woman's partner's sperm (artificial insemination by husband, AIH) or donor sperm (artificial insemination by donor, AID) can be used. Earlier, a popular form of artificial insemination was AIC, in which the sperm of the husband and a donor were mixed. The advantage of this procedure was that it could not be conclusively stated that the husband was not the father of the child. This was important in an age where artificial insemination was considered to be immoral and tantamount to adultery, with the resulting child being considered as illegitimate and having no inheritance rights. With the acceptance of artificial insemination in society, the popularity of AIC waned.

The woman's menstrual cycle is closely observed, using ovulation kits, ultrasounds or blood tests. When an ovum is released, semen from a donor is inserted into her body. Just as with in vitro fertilization, the male donor is recommended not to ejaculate for a few days before the procedure. This is to ensure a higher sperm count. After the donation the sperm must immediately be "washed" in a laboratory. The process of "washing" the sperm increases the chances of fertilization and removes any chemicals in the semen that may cause discomfort for the woman. A chemical is added to the sperm that will separate the most active sperm in the sample. If the procedure is successful, she conceives and bears to term a baby as normal, making her both the genetic and gestational mother.

Of course, there are various gradations of treatment, and more technical procedures are sometimes needed. For example, semen can be injected directly into a woman's uterus to improve the chance of conception in a process called intrauterine insemination.

Artificial insemination has become a significant issue in recent years, particularly in debates revolving around surrogate parenting. Legal issues have arisen in cases where the gestational (and possibly genetic) mother decides to keep the child. Likewise, there have been debates over the rights of sperm donors.

History

Many people think of artificial insemination as a modern technology but it has a long history. Thus, apparently artificial insemination was attempted on Juana, wife of King Henry IV of Castile. In 1677 the Dutch scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek saw spermatozoa through the newly invented microscope. More than 100 years later in 1780 an Italian priest and physiologist named Lazzaro Spallanzani performed an experiment in his laboratory that revolutionized the way scientists thought. Until this point scientists had a very primitive understanding of conception largely based on how plants grew. They speculated that the embryo was the "product of male seed, nurtured in the soil of the female." Spallanzani's experiment on dogs proved for the first time that there must be physical contact between the egg and sperm for an embryo to develop. With this new knowledge Spallanzani experimented on frogs, fish, and other animals and was successful.

Efforts to develop practical methods for AI were started in Russia in 1899. Papers on artificial insemination in horses had been published by 1922. By the mid 1940's artificial insemination had become an established industry. In 1949 improved methods of freezing and thawing sperm were developed. The idea for adding antibiotics to the sperm solution came in 1950 from Cornell. Improved methods of sperm collection were developed in the 1970's and 1980's. Research to improve methods of artificial insemination continues and is usually studied under animal science curriculums. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Different Types Of Pregnancy Tests

If you believe yourself to be pregnant and are interested in using a test to determine the results factually, know that the tests sold over the counter that use urine to detect the pregnancy hormone are incredibly effective. Unlike in days gone by when the only reliable way to determine whether you are indeed pregnant was to visit your primary health care provider's office, these home tests allow you to determine whether or not you need to see a provider. Keep in mind that if you test positive for any type of home pregnancy test, you should be sure to immediately schedule an appointment with your primary health care provider. This is essential due to complications like an ectopic tubal pregnancies, where the egg lodges in the Fallopian tube and can cause a great deal of pain and medical issues if left untreated. A test will still determine that you are pregnant, although the pregnancy may not be normal or necessarily healthy.

There are two main types of pregnancy tests, those that use urine and those that use blood. Both tests are designed to detect the hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin. Commonly known as hCG, this hormone is produced when the placenta begins to develop once the embryo successfully attaches to the uterine lining. Although blood tests tend to have less false readings, the presence of this hCG hormone can easily be found in a urine based test. Generally, doctors will perform a blood test in order to determine whether or not you are pregnant. In addition to testing for the presence of hCG, a doctor may wish to run another panel to determine your overall health and levels of vitamins or nutrients. This will provide your physician with a base line for which to prescribe prenatal vitamins and medications that will ensure both mother and child are kept healthy.

If you purchase a urine based pregnancy test, there are two main options available. The first option sees the woman urinating in a cup and then inserting a special stick into the cup for a given period of time. This test generally has more accurate results since the instructions are more likely to be followed. Usually, if you visit a clinic and they issues you a urine based test, this is the type of test that you will receive. However, the most popular method of pregnancy tests available over the counter are those that require the woman to hold a special stick in a stream of urine for a certain amount of time. These tests tend to be the most popular since there is less mess and clean up required in this method. There are even versions of this test that can detect the hCG pregnancy hormone almost immediately after the embryo has implanted in the uterine wall.

For those individuals who are far too anxious to receive the news than the necessary waiting period required for even the earliest versions of the urine tests, a blood test should be used. Blood tests can be administered up to seven days after a possible conception, so they are a favorite among couples that are experiencing infertility problems. Furthermore, a blood test can more accurately measure the level of hCG found in a woman's body so that potential problems or complications with the pregnancy can be immediately identified. However, keep in mind that you must visit a doctor's office in order to have a blood test to determine whether or not you are pregnant. This will often cause you to incur costs associated with the visit and the testing fees. If money is a concern, many women's clinics provide pregnancy testing for a minimal cost.

Implementing the Shettles Method: Guide to Choosing the Sex of Your Baby

While the theory behind the Shettles method appears, prima fascia, fairly logical, there are still many medical professional who suggest there is no sure way to influence the gender of your child (short of very expensive procedures like sperm microsorting, which separates X-chromosome sperm from Y-chromosome sperm). Other researchers claim between a 75% and 90% success rate using the Shettles Method or a modified version of it based on timing sex to ovulation. To be sure, debates over the efficacy of gender selection methods still abound.

Most couples who are trying to conceive would be quite happy to get pregnant regardless of the sex of the child. Given this fact, please keep in mind that attempting to influence the sex of your baby through timing intercourse may increase the odds of your baby being one gender or the other; but by restricting intercourse to just certain dates, you may in fact decrease the overall odds of simply conceiving during any given cycle.

With this disclaimer in mind, let's look at practical approaches to implementing the Shettles Method. As suggested in Part 2 (The Shettles Method: Timing Intercourse & Position), timing intercourse to an accurately predicted ovulation date is the key to unlocking the Shettles strategy. In order know when to time sex for gender choice you must know when you ovulate each month. Moreover, cycle regularity is an important variable as well, so women with clockwork menstrual cycles will have a clear advantage in implementing the Shettles method. Cycle length by itself is not an issue; more important is that the length does not vary widely among discrete cycles.

Fortunately, the same basic tools used for fertility charting and ovulation prediction can be applied to the Shettles Method, including starting a bbt fertility chart and ovulation calendar, monitoring changes in cervical mucus, and availing yourself of various ovulation predictor tests - from saliva microscopes that detect your estrogen surge to urine OPKs that detect your lh surge to high-tech fertility monitors that focus on both of these hormones. Above all, using a bbt thermometer to check your basal temperatures is the key, as a bbt thermal shift will tell you when you ovulate each month. By keeping a daily ovulation calendar/bbt chart, you will be able to track trends in your monthly cycles and pinpoint future ovulation dates with reasonable accuracy. Today, a software product associated with the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" (Toni Weschler) can also help you in monitoring your cycle.

Let's take a practical approach to applying the Settles Method - using these tools above.

Timing and Frequency of Intercourse: Again, timing sex is the key to the Shettles method. To increase the odds of conceiving a girl baby, it is recommended to time intercourse daily from the end of your period up to 2 to 3 days before you anticipate ovulation to take place. This method favors the slower but larger and more resilient X-chromosome sperm (girls). X sperm will fair better than Y sperm in a more acidic vaginal environment when cervical mucus is not yet quite "fertile".

To conceive a boy, its recommended to time intercourse directly prior to and during ovulation. This means commencing with sex no earlier than 24 hours before ovulation. Having sex the day you ovulate is also crucial. The fast but less "durable" Y-chromosome sperm are favored when cervical mucus is fertile, like egg-white, and the vagina is less acidic.

Sexual Position and Orgasm are also variables in determining gender, according to Shettles. To conceive a girl, shallow penetration is advised (ala the missionary position) and the woman should not have an orgasm, as this can produce alkaline mucus that will favor boy sperm. To conceive a boy, orgasm is suggested, as are deep-penetration positions that deposit the sperm close to the cervix.

BBT Charting: Fertility charting with a basal thermometer will provide you with the date of your ovulation thermal shift. The day you ovulate, progesterone levels increase in your body, causing a marked jump in your resting (or basal) temperature. Usually, you will see this increase a day after you ovulate. Over a few unique cycles, you'll see patterns that indicate when ovulation typically takes place for you. If you are trying to have a girl, you'll know to begin timing sex during the period at least 2 to 3 days out from your moment of peak fertility. That's because "girl sperm" can survive longer than "boy sperm" - they are more robust and able to survive the more acidic vaginal conditions that exist antecedent to the presence of more "fertile cervical mucus" during ovulation. To have a boy, you need to time intercourse as close to ovulation as possible - with 24 hours and the day of.

Cervical Mucus: Cervical fluids play a unique role in reproductive success. During most of your cycle, you have acidic or hostile cervical mucus (or very little mucus at all), which protects the vagina, but is very inimical to sperm health. However, during your time of peak fertility, cervical fluids increase and become "fertile", providing a more alkaline, sperm-friendly medium in which sperm can thrive & swim. Y-chromosome sperm need cervical mucus more than the more robust X-chromosome sperm. During ovulation, cervical mucus is abundant and like raw egg-white. It's stretchy, thin, watery, and translucent. To time intercourse to have a girl, you need to have sex before experiencing this quality of fertile cervical mucus. In other words, the presence of "transitional cervical mucus" indicates the period to time intercourse for having a girl baby. To have a boy, wait until you experience fertile, egg-white cervical mucus and then begin having sex.

Ovulation Predictor Kits and Fertility Monitors: Dr. Shettles also recommends using ovulation tests - though saliva microscopes and monitors are equally excellent for tracking fertility. For Lh urine tests, it is advised to test twice daily as you need to detect the earliest moment of your LH surge. Test in the late morning or early afternoon, and then again in the evening. The presence of the positive ovulation test indicates that you will likely ovulate within 12 to 36 hours. Hence, if you want a boy, you need to abstain from intercourse until you verify that ovulation is imminent with a positive result on your ovulation predictor kit. If you are using a saliva ovulation microscope, "transitional" ferning patterns will indicate the best time to favor X-chromosome sperm, though you'll need to wait for strong "positive" ferning patterns to favor Y-chromosome sperm.

Chinese Pregnancy Conception Calendar – Ancient Chinese Gender Predictor Chart – Lunar Conception Chart

Chinese Pregnancy Calendar and Gender Predictor

The Chinese pregnancy calendar was discovered in an ancient royal tomb more than 700 years ago. It was used to predict the gender of babies based on the age of the mother at the time of conception, as well as the month in which the baby was conceived.

Today, millions of American couples use the conception chart both before and after getting pregnant. Some people try to time their conception so that it occurs in a month when they're more likely to have a boy or a girl according to the chart. Other couples use the chart soon after achieving pregnancy in order to find out which gender the chart predicts the baby to be.

Either way, you can use the ancient Chinese pregnancy chart to predict the gender of your baby. Simply find the square that corresponds to the mother-to-be's age and the month of conception to find out whether you will have a boy or a girl!

Mother's Age At Conception	Month of Conception
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Disclaimer: This chart should be used for entertainment purposes only.
18	F	M	F	M	M	M	M	M	M	M	M	M
19	M	F	M	F	F	M	M	F	M	M	F	F
20	F	M	F	M	M	M	M	M	M	F	M	M
21	M	F	F	F	F	F	F	F	F	F	F	F
22	F	M	M	F	M	F	F	M	F	F	F	F
23	M	M	M	F	M	M	F	F	F	M	M	F
24	M	F	F	M	M	F	M	F	M	M	F	M
25	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	M	M
26	M	M	M	M	M	F	M	F	F	M	F	F
27	F	F	M	M	F	M	F	F	M	F	M	M
28	M	M	M	F	F	M	F	M	F	F	M	F
29	F	M	F	F	M	F	M	M	F	M	F	F
30	M	M	F	M	F	M	M	M	M	M	M	M
31	M	M	M	M	F	F	M	F	M	F	F	F
32	M	F	F	M	F	M	M	F	M	M	F	M
33	F	M	M	F	F	M	F	M	F	M	M	F
34	M	M	F	F	M	F	M	M	F	M	F	F
35	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	M	F	M
36	M	F	M	M	M	F	M	M	F	F	F	F
37	F	F	M	F	F	F	M	F	F	M	M	M
38	M	M	F	F	M	F	F	M	F	F	M	F
39	F	F	M	F	F	F	M	F	M	M	F	M
40	M	M	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	F	M
41	F	F	M	F	M	M	F	F	M	F	M	F
42	M	F	F	M	M	M	M	M	F	M	F	M
43	F	M	F	F	M	M	M	F	F	F	M	M
44	M	F	F	F	M	F	M	M	F	M	F	M
45	F	M	F	M	F	F	M	F	M	F	M	F