Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a broad term that encompasses a variety of procedures to help couples conceive a child. It is a form of medical treatment that uses various techniques to assist in the conception and pregnancy.

The most common types of ART include artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and assisted hatching.

• Artificial insemination (with or without IVF) is used when a woman does not have a spouse or partner who can give her sperm to impregnate her egg. A doctor will collect and prepare the male partner’s semen for injection into the patient’s vagina. The procedure usually takes about an hour but can take up to three hours.
• In vitro fertilization (IVF) is when an egg is removed from a woman’s ovary and put in with sperm outside her body to create a fertilized embryo. After two to four days, when sperm has joined with the egg, they are placed back inside the woman’s uterus where they develop into an embryo. In vitro fertilization may be combined with other procedures such as timed intercourse, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In combination with IUI, you may use donor eggs that are donated by another woman.
• Assisted hatching is the process of implanting a fertilized egg into your uterus, usually using an ultrasound-guided needle. A small hole is made in the zona pellucida (a layer of body tissue surrounding the egg) to allow the sperm and egg to meet and form a single cell embryo. The process allows for a higher chance of fertilizing the egg and also increases the efficiency of implantation.

Risks of ART

There are a number of risks associated with assisted reproductive technologies. Some of these risks include:

• Pregnancy loss
• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Infection
• Multiple births (twins or triplets)

There are several other risks as well. And this would usually be a big part of the conversation between the couple and the doctor. The doctor will help patients understand the involved risks in ART procedures before the procedure.

Success rate

The success rate depends on many factors like the age of the couple, the cause of infertility, the type of treatment being done, etc. But ARTs have proven to be very effective if done under proper guidance and expertise.

Final words

ART is used for various reasons ranging from unexplained infertility, male factor infertility, endometriosis, unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss, and other specific issues regarding the female reproductive tract. If you need more information or want to go this route to grow your family, consult an OB-GYN. Talk to them and discuss whether ART is the right option for you to treat fertility issues.