Include proven procedures and techniques which often involve the laboratory handling of human oocytes (eggs) and/or embryos.

Procedures follow a general pattern of ovarian stimulation, monitoring, retrieval, insemination and transfer

…but ultimately depend your reproductive health status, needs, resources and preferences

Q: Why do we need reproductive technologies?

A: Mostly due to infertility

There are multiple causes of infertility and in many patients more than one cause may be present.

Common causes of infertility: Abnormal sperm parameters in 35% of cases Ovulation and egg quality disorders in 25% of

cases Pelvic adhesions Endometriosis Fallopian tube disorders Uterine disorders 5%-10% of cases specific factors cannot be

identifiedhttp://aart.ca/infertility

Technology What Is It? Who Benefits?

Artificial Insemination (AI)

Sperm is placed in the vagina by a physician

An infertile couple, if the man has a low sperm count (sperm can be collected and concentrated)

Or a woman who does not have a male partner and wants a child.

Technology What Is It? Who Benefits?

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

Fertilization takes place outside the body, in a laboratory procedure.

The zygotes are implanted in the uterus.

A woman who has damaged or blocked oviducts.

Technology What Is It? Who Benefits?

In vitro maturation (IVM)

Primary follicles are removed from the ovaries and induced to mature into secondary oocytes.

Used in conjunction with IVF.

A woman who will undergo in-vitro fertilization.

Technology What Is It? Who Benefits?

Superovulation Superovulation is used to produce multiple ova for IVF, to increase the chance of pregnancy.

FSH injections stimulate the development of multiple follicles.

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) stimulates ovulation.

A woman who is undergoing IVF

Or a woman who does not ovulate regularly, frequently, or at all, to increase her chances of pregnancy.

Technology What Is It? Who Benefits?

Surrogate motherhood

A zygote from an infertile couple (obtained by IVF) is placed in the uterus of a surrogate mother.

Alternatively, a surrogate mother undergoes AI, using sperm from the male of the infertile couple.

A woman who cannot bring a child to term

Or a couple who is infertile due to unknown causes or due to factors that cannot be overcome by other technologies.

Technology What Is It? Who Benefits?

Cryopreservation Oocytes, sperm and even embryos are preserved by freezing.

A male or female cancer patient, who may become infertile or sterile due to radiation therapy

Or a sperm bank that supplies semen for AI.

Atlantic Assisted Reproductive Therapies (AART)

AART is Atlantic Canada’s major centre for Assisted Reproductive Therapies. Established by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology over 20 years ago.

This is a state of the art facility, equipped with the latest technology. It provides a comfortable and caring environment for patients and their families.

AART provides services for: Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COH) Intrauterine Insemination Therapeutic Donor Insemination In Vitro Fertilization Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Blastocyst Transfer Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Stress Management Preserving Embryos and Sperm Donor Egg Program Drug Therapies

For more information you can contact:

http://aart.ca/

902.404.8600 • info@aart.ca • Suite 213, 1535 Dresden Row, Halifax, NS, B3J 3T1