Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): Types, Process, and Consent

ART may involve:

• collecting eggs from the ovaries;
• combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory;
• injecting sperm directly into an egg;
• growing embryos for several days;
• freezing eggs or embryos;
• transferring an embryo to a uterus;
• using donated eggs or embryos;
• involving a gestational carrier.

Simple examples include:

• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) may help some people experiencing infertility.
• IVF is the most common form of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) may use fresh or frozen reproductive material.
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) does not guarantee pregnancy.
• Informed consent is required throughout assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment.

• assisted — helped through medical or technological intervention;
• reproductive — related to reproduction, fertility, or pregnancy;
• technology — specialized procedures, methods, and equipment.

Common expressions include:

• use assisted reproductive technology;
• undergo ART treatment;
• begin an ART cycle;
• an ART clinic;
• an ART procedure;
• ART success rates;
• ART regulation.

Examples include:

• The clinic offers several forms of assisted reproductive technology.
• They began an ART cycle after receiving fertility counseling.
• The laws governing ART differ among countries.

The abbreviation ART should be introduced after the full term when writing for readers who may not already know it.

In Vitro Fertilization

During in vitro fertilization, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and combined with sperm outside the body.

If embryos develop, one may be transferred to a uterus. Additional suitable embryos may sometimes be frozen for future use.

IVF is the most common ART procedure.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

During intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), one sperm is injected directly into an egg.

ICSI may be considered when:

• sperm number or movement is reduced;
• sperm must be surgically retrieved;
• previous fertilization attempts have failed;
• particular laboratory circumstances exist.

ICSI may assist fertilization, but it cannot guarantee embryo development, implantation, pregnancy, or live birth.

Egg and Embryo Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation means freezing biological material at very low temperatures.

ART may involve freezing:

• unfertilized eggs;
• fertilized eggs;
• embryos;
• reproductive tissue in selected circumstances.

Frozen eggs or embryos may later be thawed and used in fertility treatment.

Egg and Embryo Donation

ART may use eggs or embryos donated by another person.

Donation may help intended parents who:

• cannot produce usable eggs;
• have certain inherited-condition concerns;
• have experienced unsuccessful treatment;
• require donated reproductive material to pursue pregnancy.

Donation requires informed consent and careful consideration of privacy, genetic relationships, legal parenthood, and future information access.

ART is the larger category.

IVF is one specific type of ART.

Other ART-related procedures may include:

• ICSI;
• embryo freezing;
• egg freezing;
• embryo donation;
• egg donation;
• selected embryo-testing procedures;
• transfer of previously frozen embryos.

Therefore, every IVF procedure is ART, but ART is not limited to one fresh IVF cycle.

IUI does not usually involve retrieving or handling eggs outside the body. For this reason, it is not classified as ART under the CDC definition.

However, IUI is still a form of fertility treatment or medically assisted reproduction in broader everyday use.

This difference shows why the exact meaning of ART may depend on the medical, legal, or reporting system being used.

1. fertility assessment and counseling;
2. ovarian stimulation with medication;
3. monitoring follicle development;
4. egg retrieval;
5. sperm collection or retrieval;
6. fertilization through IVF or ICSI;
7. embryo culture;
8. embryo transfer or freezing;
9. pregnancy testing and follow-up.

Not every patient requires every step.

Some cycles use previously frozen eggs or embryos and therefore do not require another egg retrieval.

• blocked or damaged fallopian tubes;
• ovulation difficulties;
• reduced sperm number or function;
• endometriosis;
• age-related fertility changes;
• unexplained infertility;
• inherited-condition concerns;
• fertility preservation before medical treatment;
• the reproductive needs of single intended parents;
• the family-building needs of LGBTQ+ people and couples.

The suitability of ART depends on individual anatomy, health, fertility history, reproductive goals, available services, and applicable law.

Outcomes may be influenced by:

• age;
• ovarian response;
• egg and sperm quality;
• embryo development;
• uterine health;
• cause of infertility;
• previous pregnancy history;
• treatment method;
• number and stage of embryos transferred.

A collected egg may be immature, fail to fertilize, or stop developing. A transferred embryo may fail to implant, and an established pregnancy may not continue to live birth.

Success should therefore be discussed using clearly defined outcomes, such as fertilization, clinical pregnancy, or live birth.

Possible concerns include:

• medication side effects;
• ovarian hyperstimulation;
• discomfort or complications from egg retrieval;
• unsuccessful fertilization;
• unsuccessful implantation;
• miscarriage;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• multiple pregnancy;
• emotional stress;
• treatment cost.

Transferring more than one embryo may increase the chance of twins or higher-order multiple pregnancy, which can increase pregnancy and birth risks.

A qualified fertility team should explain the benefits, limitations, alternatives, and individual risks before treatment.

Depending on the type, PGT may examine embryos for:

• a particular inherited condition;
• chromosome-number differences;
• certain chromosome rearrangements.

PGT has limitations. It does not guarantee implantation, pregnancy, live birth, or a child without health conditions.

Patients should receive clear counseling about what the testing can and cannot determine.

People may need to decide:

• whether eggs will be fertilized;
• whether ICSI will be used;
• how many embryos will be transferred;
• whether eggs or embryos will be frozen;
• how long material may be stored;
• who may authorize future use;
• what happens after separation or death;
• whether material may be donated, discarded, or used in research.

The World Health Organization and the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology developed standardized terminology partly to improve communication and comparison of ART procedures and outcomes internationally.

Consent agreements should be specific, documented, and consistent with applicable law.

• different-gender couples;
• same-gender couples;
• single intended parents;
• transgender people;
• nonbinary people;
• people using donor reproductive material;
• intended parents working with a gestational carrier.

Genetic, gestational, social, and legal parenthood may involve different people.

ART should be discussed without assuming that every patient is heterosexual, married, cisgender, or using their own eggs and sperm.

IUI is always classified as ART.
Under the CDC definition, IUI is excluded because only sperm is handled.

Every retrieved egg becomes an embryo.
Some eggs are immature, do not fertilize, or stop developing.

ART guarantees pregnancy.
Pregnancy and live birth are possible outcomes, not guaranteed results.

ART always uses donated reproductive cells.
Many procedures use eggs and sperm from the intended parent or parents.

ART is only for married heterosexual couples.
People with varied identities, relationships, and family structures may use ART.

1. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes fertility procedures involving the handling of eggs or embryos.
2. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) may involve IVF, ICSI, embryo freezing, or egg donation.
3. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) can help some people experiencing infertility.
4. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) may use fresh, frozen, or donated reproductive material.
5. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) does not guarantee fertilization, pregnancy, or live birth.
6. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) requires informed consent concerning eggs, embryos, storage, and transfer.
7. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) may support people with many different identities and family structures.
8. Accurate discussion of assisted reproductive technology (ART) should distinguish IVF, IUI, fertility treatment, embryo transfer, and consent.

ART can separate conception from intercourse by allowing eggs, sperm, and embryos to be handled through medical and laboratory procedures. This demonstrates that reproduction, sexual activity, intimacy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and parenthood are related but distinct concepts.

Accurate sexuality education presents ART through clear medical information, realistic expectations, bodily autonomy, informed consent, privacy, family diversity, and respectful handling of reproductive material and embryos.