In vitro fertilization: the A.R.T. of making babies (assisted reproductive technology)

Description

Explores the range of options available to infertile couples, focusing on couple eligibility and program selection.;1. The growing dilemma of infertility -- Venereal diseases -- Medications and "recreational drugs" -- 2. The anatomy and physiology of reproduction -- The female reproductive tract -- The male reproductive tract -- The process of fertilization -- Hormones -- The follicular/proliferative phase of the cycle -- Ovulation -- The secretory/luteal phase of the cycle -- Miscarriage in early pregnancy -- 3. Natural conception and IVF : two pathways to pregnancy -- Organic and physiologic problems -- Fertility drugs -- Multiple pregnancy -- Fallopian tubes -- Birth defects -- 4. IVF step 1 : preparation for IVF treatment -- 5. IVF step 2 : controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) -- Fertility drug therapies -- 6. IVF step 3 : egg retrieval -- 7. IVF step 4 : embryo transfer -- 8. The five ultimatums for successful IVF candidates -- Woman's eggs -- Man's sperm -- Quality of the embryo -- Uterine receptivity -- Embryo transfer -- 9. Other conditions that compromise fertility -- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) -- Pelvic tuberculosis -- Endometriosis -- Asherman's syndrome -- diethylstilbestrol (DES) and reproductive failure -- Ectopic pregnancy -- Thrombophilias -- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) -- 10. Is IVF the most appropriate option? -- 11. Shaping realistic expectations about IVF -- 12. How to find the right IVF program -- Chemical pregnancy -- Clinical pregnancy -- 13. IUI, GIFT, and other alternatives to IVF -- Artificial insemination -- Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) or tubal embryo transfer (TET) -- Natural-cycle IVF -- 14. Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) -- 15. Other options for couples with intractable infertility -- Egg donation -- Embryo banding -- Embryo adoption -- IVF (gestational) surrogacy -- Bioethics of gestational surrogacy -- 16. Miscellaneous considerations -- Same-sex couples -- Gamete/embryo cryopreservation -- Autism and IVF -- Fragile X syndrome and IVF -- Human cloning -- 17. The nine most common questions and concerns about IVF -- Early menopause -- Baby be normal? -- Can I afford IVF? -- Chances of success -- Pain & risk -- Value of immunotherapy, PGD, ICSI, assisted hatching (AH) and frozen ET (ET) versus fresh ET? -- Blastocyst ET -- How many embryos -- Donor eggs -- 18. Putting the IVF house in order -- Minimum standards -- Affordable IVF.