The medical team

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) demands a team approach. Here are the professionals that make up a typical ART medical team:

• Reproductive endocrinologist (or equivalent)
  Responsible for ovulation stimulation, egg retrieval, embryo replacement and monitoring the luteal phase following the return of embryos to the uterus.
  
  
• Laboratory director (may be a biologist or physician)
  Responsible for egg-sperm preparation and interaction and embryo culture prior to uterine or tubal transfer. Embryo cryopreservation, thawing and direct injection of sperm into the egg known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are also the responsibility of the laboratory director.
  
  
• Nurse coordinator
  Responsible for being the patient’s contact and ensuring that treatments occur smoothly and in proper sequence.

Most teams also include a counselor, as well as ancillary ultrasound and endocrine laboratory staff.