🧬 Assisted Reproductive Technology
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) encompasses a variety of procedures used to achieve pregnancy by handling the sperm and/or the eggs. The foundational technique, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), involves retrieving eggs and fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory dish before transferring the embryo into the uterus. Other methods include Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, often used in cases of male factor infertility.
These techniques offer hope to millions of couples and individuals struggling with infertility, providing avenues for building a family that were previously unavailable.
The development of sophisticated laboratory tools has been central to the success of ART. Advances in embryo culture media, time-lapse imaging incubators, and genetic screening methods, such as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS), have significantly improved success rates and reduced the incidence of passing on genetic disorders. The meticulous control over the…