Understanding ART: What is Assisted Reproductive Technology?

Assisted Reproductive Technology, or ART, refers to advanced fertility treatments that focus on working with eggs or embryos to help you build the family you've been dreaming of. These innovative procedures can open doors to parenthood for many people facing fertility challenges.

Whether you're just beginning your fertility journey or exploring additional options, ART treatments can be tailored to your unique needs, medical situation, and personal values—giving you hope and pathways forward when natural conception hasn't been successful.

‍

What Are My Options for ART?

The most well-known, most common, and most studied form of ART is in-vitro fertilization, or IVF. However, there are other options that may be appropriate for some couples addressing infertility.

‍

What is IVF?

In-vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a carefully orchestrated process where fertility specialists combine egg and sperm in a specialized laboratory setting to create embryos. These embryos are then gently transferred to your uterus, where they can hopefully implant and grow into the pregnancy you've been hoping for. For a comprehensive understanding of what to expect during this process, we encourage you to explore our detailed IVF Guide.

Many couples find that their fertility team may recommend additional procedures alongside IVF to maximize their chances of success:

• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) - This precise technique involves an embryologist carefully injecting a single sperm directly into an egg to help with fertilization. It's particularly helpful when male factor infertility is part of your story, giving sperm the extra assistance they need to successfully fertilize the egg.
• PGT-A - Your fertility specialist might suggest this procedure for a variety of reasons. In this procedure, embryos are biopsied and a small sample of cells is taken and assessed in the lab to see whether the embryos are euploid, meaning they have all 46 chromosomes. This testing reduces risk of genetic conditions and miscarriage, improving your chance for successful IVF.

What is GIFT?

GIFT (Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer) offers a unique approach that may align with your personal or religious beliefs. During this process, your fertility team will first stimulate egg production with carefully monitored medications. Then, through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, your eggs are collected and placed directly into your fallopian tube along with sperm, allowing fertilization to occur naturally within your body.

While GIFT isn't commonly performed today—making specific success rates difficult to determine—it can be a meaningful option to discuss with your fertility specialist if you have religious concerns about fertilization occurring outside the body and you have at least one healthy fallopian tube.

‍

What Does ART Cost?

We understand that the financial aspect of ART can feel overwhelming when you're already navigating the emotional challenges of fertility treatment. ART costs typically range from $15,000 to more than $30,000 per cycle, and additional procedures like assisted hatching or ICSI can add to these expenses.

At Sunfish, we believe that financial concerns shouldn't stand between you and your dream of parenthood. That's why we've designed our services to provide not just medical support, but also logistical guidance and financial peace of mind throughout your entire ART journey. Our comprehensive IVF Success Program brings together partnerships with leading fertility clinics, all-inclusive IVF packages, and dedicated personal support to guide you every step of the way.