If you're having problems conceiving a baby, there are many ways that modern technology can help. Artificial insemination inserts semen into your uterus or vaginal canal. You will be inseminated when you're ovulating naturally or after taking a fertility drug to induce ovulation. You can use semen from your partner or a donor. If your partner is paralyzed, you can still use his sperm to become pregnant. In vitro fertilization is a little different. The first 'test tube baby' was born in 1978. This procedure is used if you have a uterus and at least one ovary, but have problems with your fallopian tubes. Here the egg and sperm are united in a dish and implanted into your uterus. There are more modern techniques than these to assist in conception. Gamete (GAM-eet) intrafallopian (in-trah-fal-LOW-pee-an) transfer is very similar to in vitro fertilization, where the eggs and sperm are united in a dish. Instead of placing this mixture in the uterus, it's inserted into one or both fallopian tubes. Tubal ovum transfer, another technique, places extracted eggs into the fallopian tube close to where it opens into the uterus. From here, the woman has intercourse or is artificially inseminated. Embryo lavage (LUH-vawj) takes a female donor's eggs and fertilizes them. After sperm and egg unite, the egg is transferred to the woman trying to conceive.
