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Assisted Reproductive
Technology
Chapter 55
Erin M. Murphy, MD
❍ What are assisted reproductive technologies (ART)?
A large number of techniques that bring the sperm and oocytes closer together in order to increase the chance of
pregnancy.
❍ What are the types of ART?
IVF or in vitro fertilization—The eggs are aspirated from the ovary, mixed with the sperm in a dish, and the
fertilized eggs (embryos) are transferred to the uterus 3 to 5 days later.
ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)—Single sperm is directly injected into oocyte.
Gestational carrier surrogacy—Fertilized egg placed into the uterus of a surrogate.
Egg donation—Use of a woman’s oocytes in order to achieve pregnancy in an infertile woman or a woman at risk
of maternally transmitted genetic disease.
GIFT or gamete intrafallopian transfer—The eggs are aspirated from the ovary and deposited with the sperm in
the fallopian tube via laparoscopy.
ZIFT or zygote intrafallopian transfer—Eggs are aspirated from the ovary, mixed with the sperm in a dish, and the
fertilized eggs (embryos) are transferred to the fallopian tube.
GIFT and ZIFT are much less commonly performed recently due to relative invasiveness of this procedure as
compared with IVF.
❍ What are the indications for IVF?
Tubal factor infertility, endometriosis, mild-to-moderate male factor infertility, diminished ovarian reserve,
ovulatory dysfunction, and unknown/idiopathic infertility.
❍ What are normal semen parameters?
Volume >2 mL
Sperm concentration ≥20 million/mL
Motility >50%
Morphology >4% WHO