Infertility & assisted reproduction: A historical & modern scientific perspective

Abstract

Infertility has always been considered as a social stigma and has often been treated as socially, mentally and physically damaging experience for the childless women rather than man. Fatherhood was more a social rather than biological concept, thereby making childlessness a legitimate ground for divorce and a matter of disgrace for women. Every country has its own set of customs and traditional beliefs for the relief of childlessness. While introducing a second wife was one way to overcome the predicament of childlessness, divorce was also an available choice. There were several myths that contemplated the human concerns and their needs during ancient times. It is evident that types of the infertility and their treatment in the modern era have some historical background and different representations in the ancient civilizations. The present review discusses the historical and modern perspectives of infertility and assisted reproduction and their importance in different cultures.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology; childlessness; cryopreservation; culture; fecundity; fertilization; history; in vitro fertilization; infertility; surrogacy.