What is Assisted Reproduction
Technology?
Jessica Guerrero
What is ART?
► Group
of high tech treatment methods to
improve infertility.
► Techniques include


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In Vitro Fertilization
Artificial Insemination
Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer
And many more
History of ART
► 1978-
first successful
birth using In Vitro
Fertilization
► 1984- first successful
birth using Gamete
Intra Fallopian Transfer
► 1986-first successful
birth using Zygote
Intra Fallopian Transfer
What is Infertility?
► Inability
to conceive a baby after one year
of unprotected intercourse.
► Affects the reproductive organs of both men
and women.
► Infertility affects about 15% of couples in
the United States.
Factors Affecting Conception
►
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Production of healthy
sperm
Healthy eggs by the
woman
Unblocked fallopian tubes
The ability for the sperm
to fertilize the egg
The ability for the embryo
to implant in the uterus
Causes of Infertility in Women
► The
older a woman is
the higher her chances
of becoming infertile.
► Ovulation disorder
► Blocked fallopian tubes
caused by a pelvic
inflammatory disease
or endometriosis (a
condition that causes
adhesions and cysts).
Causes of Infertility in Men
►
►
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Azoospermia-lack of sperm
production
Inability to ejaculate
normally
Varicocele- veins in the
scrotum are enlarged
which can heat the inside
of the scrotum and can
affect sperm production.
Teratospermia- increased
percentage of abnormal
shapes
Statistics
► Infertility
affects more than 15% of the couples in
the United States.
► About one-third of infertility cases are caused by
male factors.
► In about 20% of infertile couples the cause is
unknown.
► The remaining one-third of infertile cases is
caused by a combination of factors in both
partners.
► The chances of becoming pregnant decreases 35% per year after the age of 30.
Most Common Choices of Treatment
► In
Vitro Fertilization
► Artificial Insemination
► Frozen Embryos
► Gamete Intra Fallopian
Transfer
► Zygote Intra Fallopian
Transfer
Artificial Insemination
► Sperm
is collected and
placed into a woman’s
vagina, cervical canal
or in the uterus.
► Sperm can come from
your partner or an
anonymous donor.
In-Vitro Fertilization
►A
woman’s eggs are
removed from the
ovary and mixed with
sperm in a laboratory.
Then once fertilized,
the embryos are
placed into the
woman’s uterus.
Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer
(GIFT)
►A
mixture of a
woman’s eggs and
sperm are placed into
the fallopian tube
during a laparoscopy.
► Once inserted,
fertilization is allowed
to occur.
Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer
(ZIFT)
► Mixture
of In Vitro
Fertilization and
Gamete Intra Fallopian
Transfer.
► Fertilization takes place
outside the uterus and
placed into the
fallopian tubes.
Intra-Cytoplasmic
Sperm Injection
► Sperm
is injected
directly into the eggs
in a laboratory.
► Used if infertility
originates from the
male such as:
 Low numbers of sperm
 Severe Teratospermia
Frozen Embryos
► Embryos
may be taken
from an individual and
stored for later use.
► Once ready to use,
they can be thawed
and then placed into
the uterus.
► This allows a higher
chance of pregnancy.
Selecting an ART Program
► Qualifications
and
experience of the clinic
and its personnel.
► Support services
available
► Cost
► Success rates of that
specific program
How Does this Affect Me?
►
►
►
Knowing your body, as well as
taking care of your body
increases your chances of
becoming pregnant.
If you are considering having
children in the future, the best
thing to do is practice safe sex,
take care of your body and stay
away from harmful
contaminants such as smoking
and other types of drugs.
Fertility affects us all, male or
female and attending the doctor
regularly can increase your
chances of becoming pregnant
in the future.
Works Cited
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“Age and Female Fertility.”2006. American Fertility Association. 8 March 2006.
http://theafa.org/faqs/afa_ageandfemaleinfertility.html
“Assisted Reproductive Techonologies.” Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. 2005. 8 March
2006. <http://www.sart.org>
“Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A guide for Patients.” United States Department of Health &
Human Services. 2003. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 8 March 2006.
http://asrm.org/Patients/patientechnologybooklets/Art.pdf
“Embryo Freezing.” IVF-Infertility.com. 15 October 2005. 8 March 2006. http://www.ivfinfertility.com/ivf/frozen.php
Insemination. 1 March 2005, Home ed., InfoTrac. College of the Sequoias Library, Visalia, CA. 1 March
1999.
The Reproductive System. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, c2004
“Male Infertility.” Familydoctor.org. 3 March 2005. American Academy of Family Physicians. 8 March
2006. http://familydoctor.org/766.xml
Understanding Fertility and Infertility: The Sourcebook for Reproductive Problems, Treatments and
Issues. New York: CheckmarkBooks.c2003
“What is Infertility?” Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility. 2006. American Society for
Reproductive Medicine. 8 March 2006.http://www.asrm.org/Patients/faqs.html#Q1:
Wisot, Arthur L et. Al. Conceptions & Misconceptions: The Informed Consumer’s Guide through the
Maze of In Vitro Fertilization and other Assisted Reproduction Techniques.
“Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer.” Pregnancyinfo.net. 2005. 8 March 2006. http://www.pregnancyinfo.net/infertility_medical_options_zift.html