Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) refers to medical treatments and procedures used to help individuals or couples conceive a child when they are facing infertility issues. ART involves handling both eggs and sperm to assist in fertilization, and may include techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or egg/sperm donation. The goal of ART is to overcome barriers to conception and enable successful pregnancy and childbirth.
Common types of ART include:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilized embryos are then transferred to the uterus.
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): Sperm is directly placed into the uterus around the time of ovulation to increase the chances of fertilization.
- Egg or Sperm Donation: Donors provide eggs or sperm for the couple when one partner has fertility issues.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): A single sperm is injected directly into an egg during IVF, often used when there are male infertility issues.
- Cryopreservation (Freezing): Eggs, sperm, or embryos can be frozen for future use, often for those who want to delay conception or for medical reasons like cancer treatment.
- Gestational Surrogacy: A woman (the surrogate) carries a pregnancy for another couple who may not be able to carry a pregnancy to term due to health or fertility issues.
ART has been instrumental in helping millions of individuals and couples achieve pregnancy, especially in cases where natural conception is not possible due to conditions such as blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, age-related infertility, or unexplained infertility.