Assisted reproductive technology

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Introduction

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) encompasses medical procedures used in the treatment of infertility that involve the manipulation of sperm and egg outside the human body. ART offers hope to infertile couples and individuals wishing to conceive a child, providing various methods to bypass reproductive challenges.

An in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.

Types of ART

ART includes several techniques, each suited to different types of infertility issues:

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): The most common ART technique, where eggs are fertilized by sperm in a lab, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus.
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): A single sperm is injected directly into an egg, often used when there are serious problems with the sperm's quality or quantity.
• Egg and Sperm Donation: Donor eggs or sperm are used for couples who cannot use their own.
• Gestational Carriers (Surrogacy): Another woman carries and delivers a baby for someone who cannot carry a pregnancy to term.

Indications

ART is recommended for a range of infertility issues, including:

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Low sperm count or sperm motility issues
• Ovulation disorders
• Genetic disorders
• Unexplained infertility

Procedure Steps

The typical ART process involves several steps: 1. Stimulation of Ovulation: Medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. 2. Egg Retrieval: Eggs are collected from the ovaries through a minor surgical procedure. 3. Fertilization: Eggs and sperm are combined in the laboratory to allow fertilization. 4. Embryo Transfer: One or more fertilized eggs (embryos) are transferred into the uterus.

Embryo transfer procedure.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

ART raises various ethical and legal questions regarding the rights of the child, the parents, and donors, if involved. Issues such as the disposal of unused embryos and the regulation of surrogacy agreements are subject to ongoing debate and differ significantly across jurisdictions.

Success Rates

The success of ART varies depending on numerous factors, including the age of the woman, the cause of infertility, and the specific techniques used. Generally, younger women have higher success rates with ART.

See Also

• Infertility
• In vitro fertilization
• Surrogacy
• Egg donation
• Sperm donation

References

• "Assisted Reproductive Technology: An Overview of Cochrane Reviews." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
• "Ethics and Assisted Reproductive Technology." Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

External Links

• WHO: Infertility
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine

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