Q: How much does it cost if I choose artificial insemination? How long does it take? A: The term artificial insemination is not accurate enough, but maybe it refers to artificial insemination. Human assisted reproductive technology includes artificial insemination (husband sperm or donor sperm), and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Artificial insemination (commonly known as artificial insemination) is a method of conception by placing sperm into the female reproductive tract (including the vagina, cervix and uterine cavity) during ovulation in a non-coital manner, allowing the sperm to naturally unite with the egg. The cost includes the following: preoperative examination for both partners, including the determination of the cause of infertility, general health examination, screening for infectious and genetic diseases, infection-related programs, etc.; ovulation promotion drugs and ovulation monitoring; and surgery. The cost varies from hospital to hospital depending on the patient’s actual condition and is roughly between 5,000-7,000 RMB. The time spent includes the following: the time to find the cause of infertility and related preoperative examinations. For the female partner, the examinations need to take into account the limitations of the menstrual cycle and usually require two or three visits to the hospital within 1-2 months to complete; the time to monitor ovulation after entering the treatment cycle. For most patients, it takes 3-5 visits to the hospital to complete a cycle. Q: What is the difference between IVF and artificial insemination and what type of people is it suitable for? A: In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (commonly known as IVF) is performed by placing eggs removed from the mother’s body in a Petri dish, adding preferably selected sperm, fertilizing the spermatozoa in a laboratory Petri dish, cultivating them for 2-5 days to develop into embryos and then transferring them back to the mother’s uterus, and delivering the baby after pregnancy. It is mainly suitable for patients with obstructed fallopian tubes, endometriosis in the female partner, low sperm or weak sperm in the male partner, and repeated failure of artificial insemination in the past. Artificial insemination (commonly known as artificial insemination) is mainly suitable for male partner with oligospermia or weak sperm, abnormal semen liquefaction; male sexual dysfunction, difficulty in intercourse due to psychological factors; certain male and female genital malformations; and unexplained infertility. Q: I am 40 years old and my husband is 41 years old. I used to use contraception, but now I want to have a baby but I have not been able to conceive, and I went to the hospital to check that my husband’s sperm quality is poor and I have mild cervicitis. My husband took six months of Chinese herbal medicine plus bullwhip as a remedy, but it did not work, I still can not get pregnant, how to do? A: The basic conditions for pregnancy include both men and women having good seeds, i.e. good quality sperm and eggs, being able to meet through the channels of the fallopian tubes (i.e. good tubal function), and then being able to plant under fertile soil (i.e. good uterine environment and endometrial tolerance), with problems on either side leading to the possibility of infertility. The age of 25-28 is the period of relatively high egg quality and the most stable level of hormone production, and therefore the best time for women to have children. A woman generally has only 400-500 follicles that mature and ovulate during her lifetime. Eggs cannot be regenerated, and once the egg reserve is depleted, the decline of ovarian function is irreversible. Studies have shown that women’s fertility decreases in a waterfall fashion after the age of 35. After the age of 38, the number of follicles and quality of eggs decreases, fertilization ability is poor, pregnancy is not easily fertilized, egg cleavage function is poor, fetal quality decreases, and there are easily deformed children. Likewise, the risk of pregnancy-related complications increases after pregnancy. It is recommended to visit a fertility specialist as soon as possible to assess ovarian function and to screen for infertility-related factors, such as male semen and other tests. Based on the results of the tests, a suitable pregnancy support program should be developed. At the same time, attention should be paid to a good lifestyle, not smoking and drinking, not staying up late, regular work and rest, eating more natural and nutritious foods, and having a balanced diet, etc. In conclusion, if a couple still wants to have a baby at an older age, they need to actively seek for a chance to get pregnant by a specialist as soon as possible. Don’t delay your already low fertility potential by believing that you can “regulate” it. Q: How long does it take to complete IVF? Will the resulting child be inferior to a naturally conceived child? A: In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (commonly known as IVF), the treatment mainly includes the time for pre-medical examination, ovulation monitoring after entering the cycle, and surgical operation, and the time required varies from person to person. The general time span takes 1-2 months with about 8-10 trips back and forth to the hospital. Current observations suggest that human assisted reproduction techniques are safe. There is no significant difference in the incidence of birth abnormalities, physical and intellectual development between the offspring of assisted reproduction assisted conception and children delivered by natural pregnancy in follow-up surveys. Q: I have been married for three years, I am now 35 years old, I only get my period once every two or three months, I have high blood pressure and have to take medication, I have no contraception but have not been able to conceive a child, do I have to do IVF to have a baby? A: This woman has been married for three years without contraception and is infertile. Her problem may be both her older childbearing age and abnormal ovulation. Women of normal childbearing age ovulate about once a month and therefore have regular monthly periods. This woman’s menstrual condition is likely to have ovulation irregularities. The woman is on the verge of declining fertility at the age of 35 and is being treated for hypertension, the latter drug effect may have an adverse effect on ovarian function. Couples are advised to visit a fertility specialist as soon as possible to assess the fertility function of both partners as well as to screen for the causes of infertility for effective targeted pregnancy assistance. Q: I got married the year before last and I am 37 years old. Both my husband and I are healthy, except that I am thin and he is fat. When I went for a checkup, the doctor said that I am too thin and my husband has poor sperm vitality, what should I do? A: The quality of semen is closely related to the fertility situation. Analysis of semen quality cannot be determined from one indicator or one result of semen alone, but should be a comprehensive analysis of multiple indicators. Methods such as sperm-egg binding test can further reflect the function of sperm. If the infertility factor is due to the semen of the male partner, chromosome testing and endocrine function examination should also be performed on the male partner. Based on the semen examination results, various assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (first generation IVF), and single sperm oocyte plasma injection (second generation IVF) can be used to assist pregnancy. At the same time, the male partner should develop good lifestyle habits, such as not wearing tight pants, staying away from sauna and sedentary, avoiding alcohol, smoking and staying up late, keeping exercise and controlling weight, etc. The female partner’s “thinness” needs to be assessed as physiological or pathological, and these can be checked in a fertility specialist. If the female partner is already at the stage of declining fertility at the age of 37, please consult a specialist as soon as possible.