Discuss this with your doctor. This technique can be used in unexplained female infertility and, rarely, with male subfertility. This means that the sperm do not have to travel the length of the reproductive canal before encountering an egg. The HFEA licenses this procedure if donated sperm or eggs are used. Following a period of hormone stimulation, a number of eggs are collected from the woman and mixed with the man's sperm.
Fertilisation occurs in the culture dish.
Up to three of any resultant embryos can be replaced in the womb. Where appropriate IVF can also be used with donated eggs, sperm or embryos. It involves IVF , with a single sperm being injected directly into each egg. As with IVF a maximum of three fertilised eggs can be transferred back into the womb. It can be used if the husband or partner has no sperm, few or poor sperm, or risks passing on an inherited disease.