Indications for assisted conception.

The main assisted conception methods are IVF, GIFT and IUI (all with superovulation). Their choice usually depends not only on their effectiveness but on a balance between the chance of conceiving naturally or with simpler treatments, relative cost-effectiveness, and the woman's age. IVF is also useful in the diagnosis of fertilizing ability when there is sperm dysfunction. This paper therefore describes and rationalizes the context in which assisted conception is to be applied in terms of the frequency, diagnosis and results of standard treatment of the various causes of infertility.