Article: Assisted reproductive technology

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a general term referring to methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. It includes taking medications to induce ovulation, or in vitro fertilization among other techniques.

ART treatments are relatively new and have been around for only around three decades. There is some evidence that children born of ART have higher rates of genetic mutation than children conceived naturally. This is most apparent in children born after IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment, where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. ICSI uses a random sperm, avoiding the natural selection process, where any sperm that can't reach the egg dies. After ICSI around 7% of children born have a severe genetic defect as opposed to less than 4% conceived spontaneously.