Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are medical treatments used to help couples become pregnant. ART procedures involve surgically removing eggs from a woman’s body, combining them with sperm in a laboratory and then transferring the resulting embryo to the woman’s uterus. ART can help couples overcome infertility caused by a variety of factors, including endometriosis, male fertility problems, and advanced maternal age. The most commonly used ART procedure is in vitro fertilization (IVF). During IVF, a doctor removes eggs from the woman’s ovaries and combines them with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred to the woman’s uterus in hopes of achieving a successful pregnancy. Other ART procedures include intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg; gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), which involves transferring both eggs and sperm into the fallopian tubes; and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), which involves transferring a fertilized egg into the fallopian tubes. In addition to helping couples overcome infertility challenges, ART can also be used to screen for genetic diseases before conception. Male Reproductive System (PGD) is a type of ART that involves testing embryos for genetic diseases before they are transferred to the uterus. PGD can help couples avoid transferring embryos with genetic abnormalities that could cause serious health issues for the unborn child. Overall, ART is a powerful medical tool that can help couples overcome infertility challenges and screen for potential genetic diseases. While ART can be used to increase the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy, it is important to remember that it is not a guarantee of success and that there are risks associated with all ART procedures.