ABSTRACT

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can be regarded as a means to an end, where the goal is to produce healthy offspring. In order to fully measure the success of this process, it is not only important to ensure that the pregnancy progresses and results in live birth, but also that the health and well-being of the child are not adversely affected by the techniques themselves. Specifi c measurements of this latter aspect have been discussed extensively in the literature in two main ways. First, the proportion of children who have congenital abnormalities as a possible consequence of a particular type of ART technique. Second, the postnatal development of the child and whether it is comparable with their peers. This includes measurements of growth, neurodevelopment, and psychosocial well-being. Put in this way, it may seem as if the safety and effi cacy of each type of ART technique can be easily determined. However, there are several issues that confound this seemingly straightforward process.