ABSTRACT
In the past 20 years, advances in assisted reproduction have resulted in over a million babies born worldwide. Pregnancy rates have doubled, while at the same time we have managed to reduce the number of embryos transferred, refl ecting major advances in laboratory procedures. From a clinical point of view two major achievements are worth mentioning: fi rst, physicians have learned to handle the stimulation drugs, more pure, more powerful, and more comfortable to the patient; second, an increased knowledge of the pathophysiology of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has made the frequency of this syndrome almost anecdotal. On the other hand, concerns about the “epidemic” of multiple gestations have raised awareness of the risks associated not only to the mother (gestational diabetes, hypertension, and anemia) but also for the babies: extreme prematurity, low birth weight, children with neurological damage, etc., not to mention the psychological burden and suffering for the parents and the tremendous health costs that it entails.
