Legal Definitions - assisted reproductive technology

Assisted Reproductive Technology, often abbreviated as ART, refers to a collection of medical procedures and treatments designed to help individuals or couples achieve pregnancy when natural conception is challenging or not possible.

These technologies typically involve handling human eggs, sperm, or embryos outside the body in a laboratory setting to facilitate fertilization and implantation.

• Example 1: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

  A couple has been trying to conceive for several years without success due to blocked fallopian tubes. They decide to pursue In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). In this process, the woman's eggs are retrieved, fertilized with her partner's sperm in a laboratory dish, and then the resulting embryos are carefully transferred into her uterus. This is a clear example of ART because it involves medical intervention, laboratory procedures (fertilization outside the body), and aims to aid human reproduction.

• Example 2: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) with Donor Sperm

  A single woman wishes to start a family and chooses to use donor sperm. She undergoes Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), where a medical professional inserts specially prepared donor sperm directly into her uterus around the time of ovulation. This procedure is considered ART because it is a medical method involving the handling of reproductive material (donor sperm) and its direct placement into the reproductive tract to assist in achieving pregnancy.

• Example 3: Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy

  A couple where the female partner is unable to produce viable eggs and cannot carry a pregnancy herself decides to use an egg donor and a gestational surrogate. Eggs are retrieved from the donor, fertilized with the male partner's sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is then transferred into the uterus of the gestational surrogate. This scenario exemplifies ART as it involves multiple medical procedures, laboratory work (egg fertilization), and the use of third parties to facilitate reproduction for the intended parents.