Reproductive technologies
In medicine, technology and biotechnology can be used to help people who are unable to have an unaided pregnancy.
Reproductive technologies include:
- collecting and storing sperm (below 0°C) for artificial insemination,
- collecting and storing eggs (below 0°C) for artificial insemination,
- artificial insemination in which collected sperm are placed in the reproductive system of a female,
- in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in which collected sperm and eggs are placed for fertilisation in a test tube, The developing egg is then placed in the reproductive system of a female,
- storage of developing fertilised eggs (embryos) so that they may be used later if an initial implantation of fertilised eggs produced by the IVF procedure fails.