Types of Assisted Reproductive Technology

General

Assisted reproductive technology, otherwise commonly known as ART, is becoming an increasingly utilized resource within the medical field to help aid couples struggling to conceive. ART refers to the use of any procedures involving the manipulation of sperm, eggs, and embryos to assist someone in becoming impregnated. Individuals usually turn to this type of care when they have found little success with other infertility treatments or if they are hoping to avoid pregnancy complications.  There are several common methods of ART used by physicians.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Typically the most commonly utilized form of assisted reproductive technology, IVF involves the extraction of an egg and a sperm to fertilize them in a lab outside of the female’s body. Once the egg has been fertilized, the resulting embryo gets transferred into the carrier’s uterus. This type of treatment makes up 99% of the ART procedures undergone by patients struggling with infertility.

While IVF can be extremely costly and patients may have to endure multiple cycles before successfully becoming pregnant, it overall yields high success rates. Age, health conditions, embryo quality, and other lifestyle factors can all influence how a patient’s body responds to IVF treatment.

Intrafallopian Transfer

This method of ART is similar to IVF, however, it involves the use of laparoscopic surgery to deliver gametes directly to the fallopian tubes. This type of ART may be opted for due to religious or insurance reasons, however, more complications may occur due to the possible outcomes of undergoing a surgical procedure. However, intrafallopian transfers typically cost more than In vitro fertilization.

There are three types of intrafallopian transfer:

1. Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) – A doctor collects the sperm and egg in a tube before distributing them to the fallopian tubes through surgery. Because this does not involve an IVF procedure, the patient does not choose which embryo gets transferred.
2. Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)—This type of ART combines IVF and GIFT techniques. The patient’s physician uses IVF methods to collect the egg and sperm samples, mixing them in the laboratory so that they become fertilized. The eggs and sperm are then transferred into the fallopian tubes. This type of intrafallopian transfer is especially beneficial to those who may have damaged fallopian tubes.
3. Pronuclear Stage Tubal Transfer (PROST) – This method is identical to ZIFT except the zygote is placed in the fallopian tubes before the start of cell division.

Frozen Embryo Transfer

This type of ART is growing increasingly common within the United States and approximately half of the patients who undergo this treatment experience ongoing pregnancies.

Frozen embryo transfer refers to the thawing of previously frozen embryos and injecting them into the uterus. Plus, this method is as safe as using fresh eggs and is a helpful solution to combatting growing rates of infertility, allowing women to save their eggs for later use without having the pressure of needing to conceive while their reproductive organs are still viable.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm into the center of an egg and can be used alongside IVF as a method to increase the likelihood of fertilization. It fertilizes approximately 50%-80% of eggs and is a helpful tool for couples whose source of infertility may be related to the male. However, some possible consequences of this procedure are that it may damage eggs, is an additional cost on top of IVF, and that the embryo may not even grow, even if injected with sperm.

Third-Party ART

Third-party ART encompasses strategies in which another person either donates an egg, sperm, or an entire embryo. It also can refer to surrogacy. Surrogacy can occur either when an individual is inseminated with sperm or has an embryo implanted into their uterus.

Citations:

“Assisted Reproductive Technology | IVF.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/assistedreproductivetechnology.html. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

“Assisted Reproductive Technology: Definition, Types, and Ethics.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/assisted-reproductive-technology#preparation. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Pfcla. “What Is Assisted Reproductive Technology (Art)?” PFCLA Fertility Blog, Hatch Fertility, 10 Jan. 2025, http://www.pfcla.com/blog/what-is-assisted-reproductive-technology-art.

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