Reproductive Health Problems And Strategies

Let's analyze the different Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) listed:

• GIFT (Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer): In this method, both sperm and unfertilized eggs (gametes) are collected and transferred directly into the woman's fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs naturally (in vivo). It does not involve direct injection of sperm into the ovum.
• ZIFT (Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer): Here, eggs are fertilized with sperm in vitro (outside the body). The resulting zygote(s) are then transferred into the fallopian tube. Fertilization occurs externally, not via direct injection into the ovum.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection): This is a specialized form of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) where a single sperm is selected and directly injected into the cytoplasm of an ovum using a micromanipulation technique. This precisely matches the description in the question.
• IVF-ET (In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer): This is a broader procedure where fertilization occurs outside the body (in vitro), and the resulting embryo(s) are transferred into the uterus (ET). Standard IVF involves mixing sperm and eggs in a dish, allowing fertilization to happen without direct injection. ICSI is often used as part of an IVF cycle when there are issues with sperm quality or previous fertilization failure, but IVF-ET itself doesn't exclusively mean direct injection.

Therefore, the method of directly injecting a sperm into an ovum is specifically called ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).

ZIFT stands for Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer. This is a technique used in assisted reproductive technologies where a fertilized egg (zygote) is directly transferred into the fallopian tube, rather than the uterus, to facilitate implantation and pregnancy.

The process is typically used when there are issues with the uterus that prevent successful implantation or when in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been performed.

The correct answer is (B) : Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer.