4. Management of the infertile couple in tertiary care, part 1

As well as all the investigations and services offered by secondary care, the tertiary care unit provides advanced fertility surgery and, in particular, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). In the first part of this article, Professor McClure discusses ovarian hyperstimulation and subsequent oocyte retrieval, which are the cornerstone of therapy for couples undergoing ARTs. He also outlines how sperm is collected and prepared for use in assisted conception techniques. For those couples who are unable to produce their own gametes, most ART units offer donor sperm and donor oocytes. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Interface Ltd