Indeed, it has been argued that the range of options available to women influences them to feel that they must not or can not give up trying until all possibilities have been thoroughly exhausted. Following investigation, the medical intervention that a woman may undertake will depend on the suspected cause of her infertility. These procedures involve manipulating sperm, eggs or embryos in an attempt to achieve a pregnancy. Insemination may be used when the cervical mucus is known to be hostile to sperm or when there is some other obstruction at the cervix. It also may be undertaken by couples who are having difficulty with sexual intercourse.
Assisted insemination involves injecting sperm into the vagina, cervix, uterus or fallopian tube.
Donor insemination also may be used by single women and lesbian couples, although access to fertility services is extremely restricted for these women. For some women, ovulatory drugs, tubal surgery or assisted insemination may be inappropriate or unsuccessful in helping them to get pregnant. The GIFT procedure then involves placing the eggs with sperm and transferring them together into the fallopian tubes, usually by laparoscope, before fertilisation occurs. The woman is required to have a general anaesthetic for the egg collection and transfer procedure. Anaesthetic is not required for the transfer.