Assisted reproductive technology: Short- and long-term outcomes

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Genetics
• Perinatal Health

Background:

• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) involves handling eggs or embryos outside the body for successful pregnancies.
• Common ART procedures include in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
• Multiple pregnancies are a significant complication, often mitigated by single embryo transfer (SET).

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the safety and outcomes of ART procedures.
• To identify and clarify risk factors and confounders in ART outcome studies.
• To provide a framework for evaluating ART research findings.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing short- and long-term outcome studies on ART.
• Analysis of potential associations between ART and adverse perinatal outcomes.
• Investigation into the role of epigenetic mechanisms in ART outcomes.

Main Results:

• ART is generally considered a safe procedure, offering successful pregnancies and healthy offspring.
• Single embryo transfer is identified as an optimal strategy to improve outcomes.
• While associations with adverse outcomes exist, causality remains uncertain due to confounding factors.

Conclusions:

• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a safe and hopeful option for many individuals seeking to conceive.
• Optimizing outcomes with single embryo implantation is crucial.
• Informed consent regarding ART risks and benefits is essential, alongside continued longitudinal research.