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What Is Assisted Reproductive Technology?

Assisted reproductive technology is accustomed to treat infertility. Fertility therapies that implement a woman's egg and a man's sperm. It operates by extracting eggs from the body of a woman.

The most popular and coherent type of ART, IVF(In-Vitro fertilisation). Donor eggs, donor sperm, or already frozen embryos are occasionally used in ART procedures. Embryos are formed by combining eggs with sperm. The embryos are later implanted into the woman’s body.  A surrogate mother is a woman who bears a child using one of the couple’s partners’ sperm. A gravid carrier conceives using one partner’s egg and the other’s sperm. Multiple pregnancies are the most prevalent consequence of ART. It can be avoided or reduced by restricting the number of embryos implanted in the parent’s body.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) 

It refers to medical methods used to treat infertility. When used to treat infertility, ART is also known as fertility treatment. ART is mainly associated with reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Some types of ART may be utilised in fertile couples for genetic purposes. Surrogacy arrangements may also involve ART; however, not all surrogacy arrangements do. Sterility does not necessarily necessitate ART as the first option to consider. There are times when the cause is a moderate condition that can be treated with more traditional treatments or with behaviours that promote health and reproductive practices.

What Exactly is Infertility?

Infertility is a condition in which you cannot conceive after a year of trying. Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and thyroid disorders can all be sources of infertility in women. Men with fertility problems may have short sperm count or testosterone levels. Your odds of being infertile increase as you get older.

Different Circumstances Can Cause Infertility:

In Males:

  • Short sperm count caused by ailments like diabetes or hormonal changes
  • Premature discharge and erectile dysfunction are two instances of sexual problems.
  • Excessive exposure to some substances
  • Using some drugs while smoking

In Females:

  • Ovulation problems caused by hormonal changes
  • Abnormalities in the uterus
  • The thickening of the uterine walls characterises endometriosis.
  • Sexually transmitted infections in the obese
  • Being exposed to specific chemicals

 Treatment for Men:

  • Changing lifestyle variables may be part of men’s treatment for common sexual issues or a shortage of quality sperm. Improving one’s lifestyle and specific habits, such as terminating certain drugs, minimising or eliminating dangerous substances, increasing the frequency and timing of intercourse, working out frequently, and optimising other aspects that affect fertility, may increase the chances of pregnancy.
  • Certain medications have been shown to intensify sperm count and the likelihood of fortunate pregnancy. These medications can improve testicular function and sperm production, and quality.
  • Therapy may be able to mend a sperm obstruction and re-establish fertility in some cases. In some cases, surgically mending a varicocele may enhance overall pregnancy chances.
  • Retrieval of sperm: When ejection is complicated, or there is no sperm in the ejected fluid, several approaches are used to collect sperm. 

 Treatment for Women:

  • Some women need at most one or two fertility treatments, while some may require a combination of analyses to conceive.
  • Fertility medications are used to restore ovulation. Fertility medications are the primary treatment for infertile women who have ovulation problems. 
  • Intrauterine fertilisation (IUI). Healthy sperm is delivered straight into the uterus during IUI when the ovary delivers one or more fertilised eggs. Relying on the cause of infertility, the timing of IUI can be correlated with your usual cycle or with fertility treatments.
  • With hysteroscopic surgery, infertility restoration surgery, a uterine septum, endometrial polyps, intrauterine scar tissue, and certain fibroids can all be addressed. Pelvic adhesions, endometriosis, and more significant fibroids may necessitate laparoscopic surgery or surgery involving a larger abdominal incision.

Getting Started with ART:

To treat infertility, numerous forms of ART are available. The method’s success rate is affected by several factors, including your age and health. ART necessitates extensive research, and professionals typically assess the risks, advantages, and expenses before prescribing the procedure.

Some examples of commonly utilised ART are:

ART, IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation):

ART, IVF is the most ordinary and coherent form of art reproduction nowadays, accounting for 99% of all ART treatments. IVF involves the extraction and fertilisation of eggs, and fertility doctors merge the egg and sperm before sending the developing embryos into the uterus via embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Advantages Of IVF: 

  • High success rate: IVF relieves many patients who would not be able to conceive otherwise. Women with blocked tubes, aged patients, persons accompanied by polycystic ovary syndrome, and people with early ovarian failure are all included.
  • Secure track record: Because IVF has been in use for many years, it has a proven track record. IVF was initially used in the 1970s, and since then, technology and aptitude have offered safer and more fortunate treatments.
  • Works when other treatments sink: A doctor may offer IVF if other fertility therapies are less likely to work based on an infertility diagnosis. IVF is appropriate for critical diagnoses such as severe male infertility, obstructed fallopian tubes, maternal age, and other conditions.
  • Anyone can make use of it: ART, IVF is not limited to the offspring’s mother. It can be used by a surrogate or gravid carrier, allowing a broad spectrum of human beings to become parents and share in the pregnant experience.

Conclusion:

ART reproduction uses medical technology to help couples have children through procedures such as IUI or IVF. There are numerous advantages to using assisted reproductive technologies. It is not just about treating infertility; one of the benefits of assisted reproductive technology is genetic screening. It can be tremendously useful in the detection of genetic disorders. One can make the required changes to ensure that these problems do not afflict the infant. With developments in assisted reproductive technology, human reproduction has come a long way (ART). ART provides the ability to overcome the challenges of infertility. Infertility affects males as well as women. The ability to overcome the restrictions of conventional fertility treatments. 

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Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What is the history of assisted reproduction?

Ans. Art reproduction has been practised for about 130 years, beginning with Schenck’s attempts to establish i...Read full

Is it necessary to treat female infertility?

Ans. Female infertility therapy is crucial for women who have attempted to conceive for more than a year but...Read full

Is it true that assisted reproductive technology raises the chance of congenital disabilities?

Ans. However, several researchers have linked assisted reproductive technologi...Read full

Why is it essential to monitor reproductive technology?

Ans. Monitoring the outcomes of reproductive technologies such as contraception and ART has become an essential publ...Read full