Kate Stern1. 1. Head, Endocrine and Metabolic Service, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. kate.stern@mivf.com.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Difficulty with conception is a common reason for young couples to present to their primary care physician. Fertility assistance, whether minimal or high level, aims to optimise the chances of having a singleton pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby. Recent advances in assisted reproductive technology, particularly at a genetic level, have helped us to better understand the causes of infertility, and also to offer techniques that maximise the safety and efficiency of treatment and therefore the chance of a successful outcome. OBJECTIVE: This article provides an update on available fertility assistance and preservation technologies to help guide the general practitioner's approach to patients presenting with fertility concerns. DISCUSSION: Recognition of the significance of a woman's age remains the highest priority for healthcare providers and allows thorough and timely evaluation and development of a management strategy. Despite technological advances, we are still limited by the inability to protect oocytes from ageing and hence are unable to 'make' embryos better.
BACKGROUND: Difficulty with conception is a common reason for young couples to present to their primary care physician. Fertility assistance, whether minimal or high level, aims to optimise the chances of having a singleton pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby. Recent advances in assisted reproductive technology, particularly at a genetic level, have helped us to better understand the causes of infertility, and also to offer techniques that maximise the safety and efficiency of treatment and therefore the chance of a successful outcome. OBJECTIVE: This article provides an update on available fertility assistance and preservation technologies to help guide the general practitioner's approach to patients presenting with fertility concerns. DISCUSSION: Recognition of the significance of a woman's age remains the highest priority for healthcare providers and allows thorough and timely evaluation and development of a management strategy. Despite technological advances, we are still limited by the inability to protect oocytes from ageing and hence are unable to 'make' embryos better.