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What is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)?

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Infertility is when you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year without success. It includes inability to get pregnant as well as experiencing miscarriages or stillbirths. If you’re experiencing infertility, you’re probably feeling very discouraged. You’re not alone, because as many as 15 percent of couples experience infertility. 

Fortunately, there are forms of treatment for infertility called assisted reproductive technology.  What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)? ART refers to a variety of techniques that are done to increase the chance of getting pregnant, and these techniques include complex procedures that may involve the manipulation of eggs, sperm, or embryos. 

Types of ART

Each couple struggling with infertility faces unique challenges. The best infertility treatment for you depends on your age, your partner’s age, and the cause of infertility. Depending on your situation, some techniques that may be recommended include:

  • Artificial Insemination. This technique is also called intrauterine insemination (IUI), and it involves placing sperm into the uterus while a woman is ovulating. The sperm may be from the partner or from a sperm donor. This procedure may be done in combination with medications that stimulate ovulation. 
  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This is the most widely used form of ART. It’s done by combining the egg and sperm outside the body in a lab setting and allowing the embryo to grow for a few days under carefully controlled conditions. One or more embryos may be implanted into the woman’s uterus. IVF is a safe procedure with a high success rate.
  • Frozen Embryo Transfer. In vitro fertilization can result in multiple embryos and extra embryos can be frozen for future use. Frozen embryo transfer involves thawing frozen embryos and then implanting them into the uterus. This is a simpler and less expensive form of ART since ovaries don’t need to be stimulated before doing this procedure and eggs don’t need to be retrieved.
  • Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. This technique may be a good choice if infertility is sperm related. It may be done along with IVF and it involves injecting a single sperm into the center of an egg.
  • Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer. In this procedure, the eggs are removed, combined with sperm, and placed in the fallopian tubes where fertilization can occur.

There are many factors that can affect the success of ART. One of the most important factors is age. Fertility declines with age, and fertility treatments are less likely to be successful for women in their mid-thirties and older than for younger women. Patients may need several cycles of treatment to successfully attain pregnancy.

Assisted reproductive technology provides hope to couples struggling with infertility and it also makes parenthood possible for same-sex couples and for single adults who want to have children. There continue to be advancements and improvements in the field of ART.

If you’re considering ART, the best thing to do is set up a consultation with a fertility specialist. The experts at The Center for Reproductive Health can help to identify possible causes of infertility and the best treatment options. Call today to set up a consultation.

 

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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