Assisted Reproductive Technologies – Technological Procedure That Helps Infertile Couples To Conceive

assisted reproductive technologies

Assisted reproduction technology of technique is any technological procedure that helps infertile couples to conceive. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) refers to using methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means, without sexual intercourse.  These procedures include all fertility treatments in which both eggs and sperm are handled, and also reproductive treatments involving a 3rd party, eg. a sperm donor.  Such procedures do not include treatments in which only sperm are handled or procedures whereby a woman takes hormonal medicinal stimulate egg production.

Some Assisted Reproductive Technologies treatments are more time-consuming, invasive and expensive than others.  It involves surgically removing eggs (ova) from a woman’s ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or donating them to another woman. There are no long-term health effets which have been linked to children born using Assisted Reproductive Technologies procedures. The success of any fertility procedures depends, in part on the female’s age.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, also known as embryo screening, is used in Assisted Reproductive Technologies procedures, to screen for a variety of genetic and chromosomal abnormalities.  Such a diagnosis is performed prior to embryo implantation, and sometimes prior to oocytes fertilization.  An oocyte or early-stage embryo has no symptoms of disease, however, may have a genetic condition that could lead to disease.  Most embryos will not develop or implant. There are two basic types of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis tests.  The second type of PGD test checks for common chromosomal irregularities related to advanced maternal age, repeated pregnancy loss and multiple IVF procedures. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is offered on a limited basis in some clinics.

Many people experience infertility when they want to have children, especially in the case of older parents who choose to wait, and such technology is designed to help them realize their dreams of having children.