have been proposed. A new edition is now due.
We were heartened to see the first edition being used as study material in numerous assisted reproduction techniques (ART) training programs and workshops all over the world. Moreover, we were humbled by many of our established colleagues telling us that they frequently refer to the book during their clinical work. In fact, this is exactly why we had written the book: to help ART practitioners successfully navigate the various day‐to‐day challenges in looking after their patients, based on the best available evidence.
More evidence has accumulated since the first edition, and all chapters have been updated, with the addition of new ones. As well as covering the counseling, medical, surgical and laboratory steps of ART, this edition also addresses training issues, organizational and business skills, and social media use.
Khaldoun Sharif, Amman, JordanArri Coomarasamy, Birmingham, UK2021
Preface to the first edition
Louise Brown, the world’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), was born on July 25, 1978, in Oldham, England. Since then, in a relatively short time in terms of scientific evolution, over 4 million babies have been born worldwide from IVF treatment.
IVF and other assisted reproduction techniques (ART) involve counseling, medical, surgical and laboratory steps, all contributing to the eventual potential success of the process. As sure as night follows day, at each step various challenges could be encountered.
The aim of this book is to stimulate resourceful thinking in the ART practitioner when dealing with those challenges, by outlining various management options, the reasoning behind them, and the evidence on which they are based. The practitioner would then be better equipped to choose the most suitable solution that best fits the needs of each particular patient.
Khaldoun Sharif, Amman, JordanArri Coomarasamy, Birmingham, UK2012
How to use this book
This is intended to be a highly practical manual, providing viable solutions to real‐life ART problems. To this end, the major sections of the book have been written mirroring the patient’s journey in the ART process. In addition, each chapter has been written concisely, starting with one or more case histories outlining the problem, followed by a discussion on how the problem occurred, how it could have been prevented, what management options are available, and the reasoning and evidence behind them.
Also, high‐quality medical care involves not only doing the right thing but also explaining it clearly to patients and answering their questions. Accordingly, we have included in each chapter a list of patients’ questions and their suggested answers.
How will you get the most out of this book? We suggest you read the case history and work out some management solutions yourself before reading the rest of the chapter. Compare and contrast your solutions with the options provided in the book. Discuss with your colleagues – seniors and juniors; nurses, counselors, embryologists, and clinicians.
Abbreviations
| ABOG | American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| ACOG | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
| ACS | acute coronary syndrome |
| ADHD | attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| AFC | antral follicle count |
| AHR | adjusted hazard ratio |
| AMH | anti‐Müllerian hormone |
| anti‐HBc | hepatitis B core antibody |
| APA | antiphospholipid antibodies |
| ART | assisted reproduction techniques |
| AS | Asherman syndrome |
| ASD | autism spectrum disorder |
| ASRM | American Society for Reproductive Medicine |
| BMI | body mass index |
| BNF | British National Formulary |
| BOT | borderline ovarian tumor |
| c‐TESE | conventional‐testicular sperm extraction |
| CBAVD | congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens |
| CBRC | cross border reproductive care |
| CCS | childhood cancer survivors |
| CFTR | cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator |
| CGH | comparative genomic hybridization |
| CI | confidence interval |
| CMV | cytomegalovirus |
| COCP | combined oral contraceptive pill |
| COS | controlled ovarian stimulation |
| CT | computerized tomography |
| CVS | chorionic villus sampling |
| DCM | dilating cardiomyopathy |
| DHEA | dehydroepiandrosterone |
| DI | donor insemination |
| DVT | deep venous thrombosis |
| ECF | endometrial cavity fluid |
| ED | erectile dysfunction |
| EFS | empty follicle syndrome |
| EMT | endometrial thickness |
