What Is Assisted Reproductive Technology?
Quick Answer
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) refers to fertility treatments in which eggs, sperm, or embryos are handled outside the body to help achieve a pregnancy. The most common form of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility, and ART has become a critical pathway to parenthood for millions.
Markham Fertility Centre offers the full range of ART services across five Ontario locations, including IVF, ICSI, egg freezing, genetic testing, and donor/surrogacy programs.
Types of Assisted Reproductive Technology
ART encompasses several distinct procedures. Your fertility specialist will recommend the most appropriate one based on your diagnosis, age, and goals.
| ART procedure | How it works | Best suited for |
| IVF (in vitro fertilization) | Eggs are retrieved, fertilized with sperm in a lab, and the embryo is transferred to the uterus | Most infertility diagnoses: blocked tubes, failed IUI, and advanced age |
| ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) | A single sperm is injected directly into an egg during IVF | Severe male factor infertility; low sperm count or motility |
| Frozen embryo transfer (FET) | A previously frozen embryo is thawed and transferred to the uterus | Patients with stored embryos from a prior IVF cycle |
| Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) | Eggs are retrieved and frozen for future use | Fertility preservation for medical, career, or personal reasons |
| Embryo cryopreservation | Extra embryos from an IVF cycle are frozen for future transfer | Patients who want to preserve embryos for later attempts |
| Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) | Embryos are biopsied and screened for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities before transfer | Patients over 35; recurrent pregnancy loss, and known genetic conditions |
| Donor egg or sperm IVF | IVF using donated eggs or sperm | Diminished ovarian reserve; single individuals; same-sex couples |
| Gestational surrogacy | An embryo is transferred to a gestational carrier, who carries the pregnancy | Patients unable to carry a pregnancy due to medical conditions |
IVF accounts for the vast majority of ART procedures performed worldwide. In Canada, approximately 20,000 ART cycles are performed each year across roughly 35 fertility clinics.
What ART Does Not Include
By the CDC and international medical definitions, ART specifically involves the handling of eggs or embryos. The following are fertility treatments but are not classified as ART:
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI): Only sperm is handled; eggs remain in the body
- Ovulation induction medications alone: Drugs that stimulate egg production without planned egg retrieval
- Timed intercourse with medication: Fertility drugs paired with natural conception attempts
These treatments are often used as first-line options before ART is recommended.
How ART Works: The General Process
While each ART procedure has its own protocol, the general process follows a common framework:
- Diagnostic assessment: Hormone blood work, ultrasound, semen analysis, and sometimes genetic screening to identify the cause of infertility
- Ovarian stimulation: Injectable hormones stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs over 8 to 14 days (not applicable for natural cycle IVF or FET)
- Egg retrieval: Mature eggs are collected through a short ultrasound-guided procedure under sedation
- Fertilization: Eggs and sperm are combined in the lab (conventional IVF) or a single sperm is injected into each egg (ICSI)
- Embryo culture: Embryos develop in a controlled incubator for 3 to 5 days, monitored by embryologists
- Embryo transfer: One embryo is placed into the uterus through a thin catheter
- Pregnancy test: A blood test approximately 10 to 14 days after transfer confirms whether implantation occurred
Additional steps such as PGT, embryo freezing, or donor gamete coordination may be integrated into your treatment plan.
Who Benefits from ART
ART is used by a wide range of patients, not only those with a clinical diagnosis of infertility:
- Couples with unexplained infertility who have not conceived after IUI
- Patients with blocked fallopian tubes, severe endometriosis, or uterine abnormalities
- Severe male factor infertility requiring ICSI
- Women over 35 experiencing age-related fertility decline
- 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and couples building families with donor gametes or surrogacy
- Single individuals conceiving with donor sperm or eggs
- Cancer patients preserving fertility before chemotherapy or radiation
- Patients with genetic conditions who want to screen embryos before transfer (PGT)
- Individuals with recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent implantation failure
ART Success Rates
Success varies significantly by procedure type, patient age, and diagnosis:
| Age group | IVF live birth rate per cycle | FET live birth rate per transfer |
| Under 35 | 40 to 50% | 35 to 45% |
| 35 to 37 | 30 to 40% | 30 to 35% |
| 38 to 40 | 20 to 30% | 20 to 30% |
| Over 40 | 10 to 20% | 10 to 20% |
Research from BORN Ontario shows that nearly 50% of IVF retrieval cycles result in a clinical pregnancy, with rates reaching approximately 60% for patients under 35.
ART Access in Ontario
Ontario offers one of the most comprehensive ART funding frameworks in Canada:
- One funded IVF cycle per lifetime through the Ontario Fertility Program (OFP) for eligible residents under 43
- Unlimited funded IUI cycles (IUI is not ART by definition but is part of the same publicly funded program)
- Funded fertility preservation for patients with medical indications such as cancer
- Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit (effective January 2025): 25% of eligible expenses up to $5,000/year, applicable to IVF, medications, diagnostic tests, and travel
- Initial consultations and diagnostic testing covered by OHIP
Why Patients in Ontario Choose Markham Fertility Centre for ART
- Full range of ART services: IVF, ICSI, FET, egg freezing, PGT, donor/surrogacy programs
- Pain-free egg retrieval with an anesthesiologist at every procedure, the only clinic in Ontario to offer this and at no additional cost to you.
- On-site genetics program for PGT counselling and embryo screening
- Five locations across Markham, Barrie-Innisfil, Oshawa, Orillia, and Sudbury
- Inclusive care for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, single parents by choice, and those using donor gametes
- Over 12,000 families supported since 1990
Explore ART options at Markham Fertility Centre →
FAQ
Is IUI considered assisted reproductive technology?
No. By the CDC and international definitions, ART only includes procedures where eggs or embryos are handled outside the body. IUI involves only sperm handling and is classified as a fertility treatment, not ART.
How many ART cycles does it take to get pregnant?
This depends on your age, diagnosis, and the type of ART used. Many patients achieve pregnancy within 1 to 3 IVF cycles. Success rates improve with younger age and when techniques like PGT are used to select the best embryos.
Is ART covered by OHIP in Ontario?
Not directly. However, eligible Ontario residents can access one publicly funded IVF cycle through the Ontario Fertility Program. Medications and additional services remain out-of-pocket but may be offset by the Ontario Fertility Treatment Tax Credit.
Can ART help same-sex couples have children?
Yes. ART is widely used by same-sex couples through donor sperm or egg IVF, reciprocal IVF (one partner provides eggs, the other carries), and gestational surrogacy. At Markham Fertility Centre, the Donor and Surrogacy team provides comprehensive support.