Emerging Trends in the Field of Assisted Reproductive Technology

Updated on October 21, 2021

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has evolved since 1978 when we saw the first live birth following In-vitro Fertilization. Conceiving babies through medical procedures such as intro-fertilization, cryopreservation of gametes or embryos, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become more common due to the rising incidence of infertility. 

Other factors that have led to the rising adoption of assisted reproductive technology are same-sex marriages and the increased number of single mothers. Sensitization on all matters relating to assisted reproductive technology will boost it in the next couple of years. Let’s look at some of the new trends in assisted reproductive technology.

Cryopreservation

These processes involve keeping the metabolism of cells, tissues, organs, and organisms inactivated by maintaining them at low temperatures below -80 degrees and -196 degrees. Patients with cancer and subfertility problems can achieve pregnancy through ART with the help of oocyte cryopreservation.

The slow freezing method, which uses low cryoprotectant concentrations to lower the temperature gradually, has been widely used for sperm, embryos cryopreservation, and mature oocytes. Though time-consuming and expensive, this method has had many positive outcomes in humans.

The alternative method to the slow freezing method is vitrification which involves converting a liquid state into a solid vitreous form and is one of the best developments of ART. Successful pregnancies and deliveries were reported after vitrified-warmed human oocytes.

In-Vitro Fertilization

Since the inception of IVF in 1978, it has transformed the field of infertility. After a high rate of poor pregnancies, in the beginning, significant steps were taken to perfect IVF. Assisted hatching, development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and description of optimized ET techniques are some of the significant advancements that have improved the success rates associated with assisted reproductive technology. Over time, we have seen high success rates of the IVF technique in different mammalian species.

INVOcell

If you are looking for a way to reduce IVF costs at a fertility clinic in Sydney, this technology is here to assist. This new technology allows the sperm and egg to be mixed in a lab and then inserted in the vagina using a tiny capsule for a five-day incubation period. The embryo is usually grown in an incubator for some days in regular IVF before it’s implanted in the uterus. Supporting embryo development in the woman’s vagina, which is a more biological environment, offers a more cost-effective and natural alternative to regular IVF.

Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA)

This is a test developed by scientists that does a molecular analysis of the endometrial tissue by evaluating implementation receptivity. The endometrium plays a central role in the implantation of the embryo, and the leading cause of IVF failure is impaired implementation. The expression of the 238 genes involved in implementation facilitates the analysis of the biopsy of the endometrial tissue. The ERA results determine the preparation to achieve a receptive endometrium, which also optimizes the chances for implementation.

Conclusion

The world of assisted reproductive technology has had some significant advancements over the years, which has helped many couples become parents. We are excited to see what other trends will follow in the next few years and positively impact the industry.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.