CDC launches new online video to provide information on Assisted Reproductive Technology

Reproductive health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched three new online videos to provide science-based information for anyone considering Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). ART services are infertility treatments including in vitro fertilization (IVF). The videos provide information about steps people can take before beginning treatment to improve their chances of getting pregnant and having healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. The videos were made possible by a grant from Aetna (NYSE: AET) to the CDC Foundation.

"Infertility is common in the U.S.," says Maurizio Macaluso, M.D., Dr.P.H., head of CDC's Women's Health and Fertility Branch. "Each year, about 7 million couples will cope with some form of infertility. While the science of treating infertility has expanded, consumers do not always have access to accurate and relevant information to help guide their treatment decisions. The CDC Foundation has continued to help the CDC move science into the community. In this case, we could provide videos and materials to help people make sound decisions as they try to overcome infertility."

The three videos feature remarks from national reproductive health experts as well as testimonials from families who used ART to conceive. The first video focuses on the importance of good health habits that can increase the likelihood of success of infertility treatments and ultimately the outcomes of pregnancy. A second video explains how to evaluate fertility clinics using the CDC's ART Success Rates Report. The report provides information on the types of ART services offered by more than 400 fertility clinics throughout the U.S. and their comparative success rates.

The third video provides information about elective single embryo transfer (eSET), an option where only one embryo is transferred during an ART cycle. Research shows that multiple births (i.e., the birth of twins, triplets or more) can cause health problems for the mother and/or her babies, including preterm delivery and low birth weight. For some women, eSET presents the best chance of a successful ART treatment resulting in pregnancy and the birth of a single healthy baby. The video discusses eSET as an option that should be considered before beginning ART treatment.

"Research tells us that many women commonly under appreciate the risk of multiple births and learn about infertility options only as they receive treatment. We want to give women the tools and information they need before conception, so they have the opportunity to talk with their doctors and to make decisions that are best for them," says Joanne Armstrong, M.D., senior medical director and head of Women's Health at Aetna.

The videos, along with questions patients can ask their doctors, are available online at http://www.cdc.gov/art/PreparingForART and aetnainfertilitycare.com.

ART has been used in the U.S. since 1981 to help women become pregnant, most commonly through IVF. The use of ART has doubled over the past decade, and today, more than 1 percent of all infants born in the U.S. every year are conceived using ART. This project can ultimately help families, friends and others understand the many decisions facing someone who is preparing for ART or other infertility treatments.