Legal Definitions - alternative reproductive technology (ART)

Alternative Reproductive Technology (ART) refers to a collection of medical procedures and treatments designed to help individuals or couples achieve pregnancy when natural conception is not possible or has been unsuccessful.

These technologies involve handling human eggs (oocytes) or embryos outside the body, or using donated genetic material or a gestational carrier. ART encompasses various methods, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), the use of sperm or egg donors, and surrogacy, all aimed at assisting reproduction through means other than traditional sexual intercourse.

Here are some examples illustrating how Alternative Reproductive Technology applies:

• Example 1: Overcoming blocked fallopian tubes

  A couple has been trying to conceive for several years, but medical tests reveal that the woman's fallopian tubes are blocked, preventing the egg from meeting sperm naturally. To overcome this, they undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this process, eggs are retrieved from the woman's ovaries, fertilized with the man's sperm in a laboratory dish, and the resulting embryos are then transferred directly into the woman's uterus. This is an example of ART because it involves the medical manipulation and fertilization of eggs and sperm outside the body to achieve pregnancy.

• Example 2: A same-sex male couple building a family

  A married male couple wishes to have a child that is genetically related to one of them. They decide to use a sperm donor (one of the partners), an egg donor, and a gestational surrogate. An embryo is created in a lab using the partner's sperm and the donor egg, and then implanted into the surrogate's uterus, who will carry the pregnancy to term. This situation demonstrates ART through the use of both donated genetic material (the egg) and a gestational carrier, which are key components of these advanced reproductive methods.

• Example 3: Single woman facing age-related fertility challenges

  A single woman in her early 40s decides she wants to have a child, but her ovarian reserve and egg quality have significantly declined with age, making conception with her own eggs very difficult. She chooses to use donor eggs from a younger woman, which are then fertilized with donor sperm. The resulting embryo is transferred into her uterus. This is a clear application of ART because it relies on the use of donated eggs to facilitate conception, providing an alternative pathway to parenthood when natural methods are no longer viable.