Challenges imposed by scientific development in ART

The primary goal of ART is to produce a healthy baby which will develop into a healthy adult. There are a number of challenges which must be met in order to achieve this goal, with possibly two foremost at the present time. The first is to eliminate multiple pregnancy by transfer of a single embryo, and the second is to understand the risks involved in ART. In recent years spin-out technologies have also developed from ART, first the diagnosis of genetic disease in the embryo, and now the derivation of embryonic stem cell lines with the potential to treat a range of human health disorders. Current and future scientific developments can help achieve all of these aims, but present a number of challenges to the ART community and regulatory bodies. © British Fertility Society.