Implications of Cytogenetic Abnormalities and Azoosper-mia Factor Microdeletions in Assisted Procreation

Assisted procreation techniques have revolutionized the management of infertility and have offered hope to millions of infertile couples. The main aim of these procedures is to produce healthy offspring. However recent studies on short term outcome of ART have reported a higher incidence of low birth weight, development delay, imprinting defects, sex and autosomal structural abnormalities, major and minor congenital malformation and certain cancers in babies conceived via ART. Further the health of ART conceived children beyond the neonatal period have been less well evaluated. A large number of infertile couples opting for ART have an underlying genetic aetiology. These genetic aberrations are iatrogenitically transmitted via ART. Thus it is important that all couples undergo a detailed and comprehensive genetic evaluation prior to ART.