Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

By RRM Academy Reviewed by Dr. Naomi Whittaker, MD, Board-Certified OBGYN, MIGS, NFPMC, FCI Updated May 14, 2026

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is the umbrella term for medical procedures in which eggs or embryos are handled outside the body to achieve pregnancy. The category includes in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), donor egg and donor sperm cycles, embryo banking, frozen embryo transfer, and gestational surrogacy. Note that intrauterine insemination (IUI), while sometimes grouped colloquially with fertility treatments, does not involve eggs handled outside the body and is classified separately from ART in CDC, HFEA, and SART reporting.¹

ART procedures are bypass technologies. They achieve pregnancy by working around the reproductive barrier without requiring that barrier to be identified or treated. A woman with undiagnosed endometriosis who undergoes IVF still has endometriosis. A couple with undiagnosed male factor who pursues ICSI still has an undiagnosed male factor. The conception method changes. The underlying condition does not.

RRM and ART reflect opposite premises. ART proceeds from the assumption that the body cannot succeed on its own and builds technology around that assumption. RRM asks why the body has not succeeded, then addresses the answer. These are different questions. They lead to different clinical pathways. Cross-referencing them as alternatives for the same clinical problem understates how differently they frame the problem itself. See corrective vs. bypass approach.

ART carries elevated perinatal risk relative to naturally conceived pregnancies, including higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and multiple gestation. A systematic review of controlled studies confirmed elevated risk for both singletons and twins after assisted conception.² HFEA annual data document the population-level profile across hundreds of thousands of UK treatment cycles.¹ Patients deserve accurate, age-stratified outcome data before consenting to any ART procedure.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.