Conception by ART (assisted reproductive technology)

Thanks to miraculous medical advancements in the last century, hope was born for couples struggling to conceive a child naturally. Nowadays, it is common for couples to consider a wide variety of treatments to help them on their path to parenthood if they are having difficulties. Renowned London-based consultant in reproductive medicine, Professor Rami Wakim shares his expertise on assisted reproductive technology or techniques (ART). Professor Wakim discusses the main techniques, their benefits, and what patients should be aware of before the treatment. 

What is assisted reproductive technology?

Assisted reproductive techniques or technology (ART) is a way of helping couples who are experiencing difficulties conceiving a child. This entails laboratory techniques and other forms of clinical input to help this couple on their journey. One way of looking at it, is like active management of a couple's reproduction, rather than them just trying for the best at home. There is a whole spectrum of techniques that can be used, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

What is the difference between ART and IVF?

ART is a broad term for a wide range of techniques offered to couples who are struggling to conceive. IVF is one of the techniques that is used to help them. 

What are the main techniques used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) in humans?

ART began over 40 years ago in England, when Louise Brown, the first IVF baby, was born. Her birth was achieved by extracting an egg through laparoscopic technique and fertilising it with sperm. However, there are also numerous laboratory techniques, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) together with IVF, which is procreating embryos in the lab with the aim of transferring them to the uterus, bypassing the tube for people who might have tubal factors affecting their chances of conceiving. This was the initial reason why IVF was developed, because of tubal blockage. 
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which was developed in 1992, involves injecting the egg with sperm with the help of high magnification microscopes.

This has also opened doors for people who have male fertility issues to overcome this and successfully conceive a child. IVF with ICSI is now the most common form of ART.
ART also includes all the other subsidiary technologies that have developed since, including more ways of detecting the perfect embryo or extended culture (blastocyst culture) media, to name a few. 

What are the benefits of assisted reproductive technology?

The major benefit is to help the couple who want to conceive, but are having difficulties, to find success in a relatively short period of time. It’s worth stressing that ART does not, for example, create more eggs in the woman nor change the sperm form. Specialists work out and establish solutions for both male and female factors to advance the pregnancy success rate. ART looks at the ways to manage both male and female factors in a time-efficient way, is helping the couple to have immediate treatment which otherwise would have taken a much longer time to potentially get pregnant.

What should patients be aware of before considering assisted reproductive technologies?

Patients should be aware of the availability of the treatment. If they are in the UK, for example, they should speak to their GP about funded cycles, because it is available on the NHS. They should also be aware that to maximise their chances of conceiving they have to take folic acid and Vitamin D, eat healthy foods, exercise frequently, don't smoke, and keep body weight at an ideal weight, keeping the BMI below thirty.

These are the preliminary factors that are crucial to the success of ART. Patients should be aware of the availability of counseling and help if needed. There have been huge advancements in this field, which have been ongoing now for 40 years. It is a highly successful treatment.

It is also worth noting that egg freezing is a part of ART, so it is not just helping couples but also women, who at a younger age to have their eggs preserved to have a better chance of conceiving at a later stage in life if they haven't met the right person or wish to wait. 

If you are having difficulties conceiving or are considering freezing your eggs, you can book a consultation with the esteemed Professor Rami Wakim directly on his Top Doctors profile.