ART overview

Defined in its broadest sense, the term assisted reproductive technologies (ART) could be applied to any therapy directed toward improving conception chances for women and men experiencing infertility. In common usage, ART is reserved to describe those interventions related to in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer.

While there are no guarantees with advanced infertility treatments, the success rates are encouraging. Approximately 1 million babies have been born worldwide using ART since it was introduced.  In the United States in 2003, approximately 123,000 ART cycles were performed, resulting in 48,756 babies being born.

ART therapies are generally expensive and emotionally taxing. So before you enroll in one make sure you know as much as possible about what ART involves. Ask questions and then evaluate all of your options. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for treatment.

This section outlines ART from defining the various types of procedures to explaining the possible risks and results. As well, there’s information here that will tell you what to expect from your medical team and from treatment.