Managing the complications associated with assisted reproductive technologies.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Medical Interventions
• Genetics

Background:

• Increasing demand for assisted reproduction due to delayed conception globally.
• Over 1% of children worldwide are conceived via assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
• ART, like any medical intervention, presents potential short-term and long-term complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the complications associated with assisted reproductive technologies.
• To discuss strategies for mitigating risks in ART.
• To compare ART outcomes with conventional conception methods.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on ART complications.
• Analysis of short-term risks including OHSS and multiple pregnancies.
• Exploration of emerging laboratory techniques to reduce multiple births.

Main Results:

• Major short-term ART complications include OHSS and multiple pregnancies.
• Multiple pregnancies are linked to most childhood morbidities post-ART.
• ART may involve a slight increase in birth defect risks, confounded by subfertility factors.

Conclusions:

• Preventive strategies for OHSS are evolving.
• New methods aim to reduce multiple pregnancies while maintaining live birth rates.
• Long-term ART sequelae require further investigation; counselling is crucial.