Genetic aspects of artificial fertilization

Abstract

Artificial fertilization protocols were developed to circumvent natural reproduction barriers. Genetically determined barriers were commonly estimated at approximately 30%. This review presents an overview of possible genetic barriers and divides them into four different groups for discussion of their specific aspects. Obviously, genetically determined sterility factors are mostly associated with the phenotype of severe idiopathic male sterility. Before the development of ICSI, the treatment of this patient group showed only a low rate of success. Now many scientists are afraid that ICSI will not only increase this rate of success significantly, but will also increase the rate of genetically determined diseases, including sterility, to ICSI offspring.