Authors

1Eva Pérez Martínez, 2Irene González Sánchez, 2Mónica Lacalle Senent, 2Myriam Rodríguez Armell, 2Julia Sánchez Ballesteros.

Position

¹Profesora enfermería obstétrico ginecológica. Escuela de Enfermería.²Alumnas Escuela de Enfermería. Universidad Antonio de Lebrija, Madrid.

Abstract

Nowadays, an increasing number of couples with infertility conditions resort to assisted reproduction techniques as their only way to conceive. Identifying the causes for sterility, both in men and in women, is critical in order to select: artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization. Such techniques require a number of studies to reach optimal results. Clinical success rates are largely depending on woman's age, which should not be higher than 50 years. High rates of plural (especially twin) pregnancies are usually observed. Such plural pregnancies can result in prematurity, low birth weight or intrauterine failure to thrive. Using in vitro fertilization, women can ask to be fertilized with a single egg, in order to avoid plural pregnancies and to avoid both maternal and fetal risks. No data are available on the relationship of cancer with in vitro fertilization. Finally, such techniques also result in high public healthcare costs.

Keywords:

Assisted reproduction; sterility; fertilizationpregnancy

Versión en Español

Título:

Técnicas de reproducción asistida