Assisted reproduction (/əˈsɪstɪd/ /ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃən/) is a medical procedure that enables individuals who face difficulty conceiving children to have a child. The term consists of two parts – "assisted" and "reproduction". The first syllable "as" is pronounced with a neutral vowel sound, followed by the sibilant consonant "s". The second part "sisted" follows the pattern of 'sist' being pronounced with a short vowel sound, followed by the 'ed' suffix, resulting in the sound of /ɪd/ at the end. The word "reproduction" is pronounced as /ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃən/.
Assisted reproduction refers to the medical procedures and techniques that assist individuals or couples in achieving pregnancy when natural conception is not possible or difficult. It encompasses a range of techniques designed to facilitate the fertilization and implantation of the egg, resulting in successful pregnancy.
One commonly used method of assisted reproduction is in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this procedure, the eggs are extracted from the woman's ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish, after which the resulting embryos are transferred into the woman's uterus. IVF may involve the use of the intended parents' gametes or that of a donor, depending on the specific circumstances.
Other assisted reproduction techniques include intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg, and sperm or egg donation, which involves the use of donated gametes to facilitate fertilization. Surrogacy is also considered a form of assisted reproduction, where a woman carries a pregnancy to term on behalf of the intended parents.
Assisted reproduction offers hope to individuals and couples facing fertility challenges due to various reasons, such as advanced age, hormonal imbalances, genetic disorders, or anatomical abnormalities. While it may involve advanced medical interventions and technologies, assisted reproduction has provided countless individuals with an opportunity to experience the joys of parenthood and build their families.
The etymology of the word "assisted reproduction" can be broken down as follows:
- Assisted: This word originated from the Latin "assistere", which means "to stand by" or "to help". It is a combination of the prefix "ad-" meaning "to" or "toward", and the verb "sistere", referring to "cause to stand" or "stand".
- Reproduction: This word comes from the Latin "reproducere", a compound of "re-" meaning "again" and "producere" meaning "to bring forth" or "to produce".
Therefore, "assisted reproduction" refers to the process of providing assistance or support in the act of bringing forth or producing offspring. It commonly involves various medical techniques or procedures to aid individuals or couples who are unable to conceive naturally in conceiving a child.