Description of Treatment/Procedure

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) describes a group of procedures developed to facilitate fertilization and normal delivery for infertile couples. The World Health Organization has defined infertility as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy that results in a live birth after one year of trying. This report focuses on in-vitro fertilization with embryo transfer (IVF-ET), gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT), zygote intrafallopian tube transfer (ZIFT), assisted zona hatching (AH), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Committee Summary

The ICSI Technology Assessment Committee finds that ART are safe although the potential long-term consequences for both the mother and child remain unknown. Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has been reported in about 1% of patients undergoing ovarian stimulation. The incidence of congenital abnormalities is no higher than in the general population. The success of ART decreases with maternal age. Nationwide, the live birth per cycle rate was 20% (17-33% in Minnesota) and the clinical pregnancy rate was 24% (26 to 39% in Minnesota). IVF-ET has been found (in Grade B studies) to be as effective as other ART (including GIFT and ZIFT). The technology associated with IVF-ET (either with or without ICSI) continues to evolve making IVF the most effective of the ART.