Assisted Reproductive Technology

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures involve surgically removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or transferring them to another woman’s uterus for gestation. ART refers to those treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involve harvesting eggs and sperm with the intent to achieve a pregnancy. An ART procedure is typically referred to as a “cycle of treatment.”

Organizations such as the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) track the outcomes of registered ART clinics, including their success rates, through databases. Each center enters data such as infertility diagnosis, medical history, and resulting pregnancies and/or births and reports them to the CDC for compilation in an annual report. In order to accurately report pregnancy outcomes, ART reports are released approximately every two years after procedures are completed. For example, the 2003 report was published in 2005. Time is required to fully complete ART cycles, verify births, and analyze data.

Below are a few caveats that can guide you when reviewing ART reports:

• Clinic success rates can vary from year to year;
• Some clinics treat more patients with complicated infertility problems and thus have lower success rates;
• Cancellation of cycles affects a clinic’s success rate;
• Success rates include both stimulated and unstimulated cycles;
• Success rates are calculated per cycle, not per patient;
• The number of embryos transferred varies from clinic to clinic.

The team at the Emory Reproductive Center utilizes every resource to ensure you the best possible chance of conceiving. The decision to pursue ART involves physical, emotional, and financial resources, so we encourage you to carefully examine all aspects before beginning treatment. To reduce the stress of ART, both psychological and financial counselors are available. Reducing stress has been shown to improve pregnancy rates.

Attend a free fertility seminar.