Assisted reproductive technology: Short‐ and long‐term outcomes

Abstract

In 1978 Louise Joy Brown was the first infant born by in vitro fertilization (IVF), as the result of the pioneering work of Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe, and Jean Purdy in the successful development of this procedure. 1,2 This dramatic success was followed 14 years later by the first infant born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), 3 a method that was initially developed for male infertility.These and subsequent advances in the rapidly developing field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) have provided hope for people struggling with the medical, emotional, and financial effects of infertility and for those wanting to conceive where there are risks of the recurrence of monogenic disorders. 4,5 As of 2020, an estimated 8 million children had been conceived by ART. 6 ART refers to in vitro procedures with carefully orchestrated sequential steps, which are overall termed an ART cycle: ovarian stimulation; surgical removal of eggs from the ovary; fertilization with sperm in a laboratory; and then returning embryo(s) to the female reproductive tract. ART can involve donor eggs, donor sperm, and gestational carriers. Procedures include IVF and ICSI. There are situational indications for either fresh or frozen embryo transfer. 7,8

The bibliometric analysis of studies on intracytoplasmic sperm injection from 2002 to 2021

“…The outcome data of childhood and growth into early adulthood are the potential hotspots and trends of ICSI. Continuous follow-up into later life needs to be investigated and confirmed ( 32 ). Recent studies suggested a small excess of birth defects and low birth weight in children conceived via ART.…”

“…Recent studies suggested a small excess of birth defects and low birth weight in children conceived via ART. Furthermore, several studies have reported an increased frequency of ART conceptions associated with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome or Angelman syndrome caused by an imprinting defect ( 32 , 33 ). The keywords with the strongest citation burst result indicated the focus and hotspots of ICSI research, concentrating on the outcomes of pregnancy and risks of live birth from 2014 onward.…”

A Narrative Review Discussing Vasectomy-Related Impact upon the Status of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Biomarkers and Semen Microbiota

“…Infertility evolved into a profound issue in many countries affecting a significant proportion of individuals of both sexes as the popularity of ART procedures matures and tries to meet the requests. As far as it goes for men, many non(reproductive) disorders and treatments might stand behind this, while a fraction of cases remain unexplained and, thus, a thorough evaluation could guide the clinicians to treatable causes and allow natural fertility [ 191 , 192 ].…”

The status of surrogacy in China

“…Steptoe, enabling a gestational surrogate to carry a child genetically unrelated to the surrogate mother but the intended parent. Then, the first successful gestational surrogacy took place in 1985 (17). ART procedures involve IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryopreservation of gametes or embryos, and fertility medication.…”