The role of animal studies in supporting human assisted reproductive technology

Although average success rates of human IVF have increased progressively during the past two decades, the efficiency of this technique, based on each embryo produced or transferred, is still low. High success rates are usually achieved by transferring several embryos to the patient, which is often associated with multiple pregnancies. The quality of in vitro produced embryos is a major area that needs attention. Because there is no in vivo database for human embryos, the properties of normal embryos are not known, and so it is difficult to know how to improve quality and viability. In addition, selection of the most viable embryos for transfer is a rather subjective process. The origins of human assisted reproductive technology (ART) are based on animal ART; however, the two areas of research (animal and human ART) appear to have become disconnected. Re-examination of progress in animal ART could help improve human embryo quality and thereby assist efforts to sustain high pregnancy rates with only one or two embryos transferred. Some key areas in which animal ART can help guide progress in human ART are discussed.