In certain cases, manipulation of the embryo can enhance implantation and subsequent pregnancy. Common practice is to use acidified Tyrode’s solution (pH 2.35) to thin the zona pellucida. An increase in implantation from 18 % to 25 % is achievable for oocytes with poor prognosis with this intervention, refeffed to as assisted hatching. Assisted hatching is not applicable only for male factor infertility, in fact, it is a treatment for specific defects in embryo development or oocyte abnormalities. However, it is a micromanipulation technique that is routinely performed during IVF …

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a relatively new but well-established procedure first performed in 1992. The procedure was developed to help male factor infertility. The procedure involves injecting a single sperm into the cytoplasm of each egg using a fine glass needle. The first ICSI baby was reported in 1992. The ICSI has largely replaced the two previously developed procedures, PZD (partial zona dissection) and SUZI (subzonal insemination) because it achieves much higher fertilization rates.
The injection of immature sperm (spermatid) into the egg is not allowed in the UK because …

For some couples undergoing IVF, one of the most significant ethical issues they may face is the fate of the surplus embryos.
Following embryo transfer, any remaining viable embryos are then cryopreserved (frozen) for later transfer. Not all embryos are suitable for freezing. The embryos can be frozen at the pronucleate, early cleavage or blastocyst stage. Overall about 50% of frozen embryos survive the thawing process. In the United Kingdom, the embryos can be frozen for up to 10 years with the intent of thawing and transferring them at a later …

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.
IVF cycle. The diagram below summarises the IVF cycle.

The original indication for IVF was tubal …