Assistierte Reproduktion: Chancen und Risiken

Since the birth of the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby in 1978 the treatment options for couples with an unfulfilled desire for pregnancy have evolved rapidly in the field of reproductive medicine. In Germany 75,928 assisted reproduction technique (ART) treatments were recently recorded with a clinical pregnancy rate of 28.69%. Although the methods of ART are being continuously improved the risks of the treatment remain, such as ovarian overstimulation syndrome, complications of follicle puncture, the risk of multiple births and a higher rate of malformations. Couples with severe genetic diseases in Germany now have the possibility for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PID) at selected centers after a positive vote of an ethics committee to avoid a trial pregnancy with all the psychological and physical side effects.