Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Since the birth of Louise Brown, the first “test tube baby, " in 1978, assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been widely implemented as a standard treatment for couples with subfertility problems. An estimated 8 million children have been born via ART worldwide and up to 6% of newborns in Europe and 1.5% in United States are conceived via this technique [2]. ART pregnancies are at an increased risk for neonatal complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight as well as maternal complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The exact mechanism behind the adverse outcomes is not known, but a role for the placenta is likely. In this chapter we will summarize current knowledge on human placenta development and functioning in relation to ART treatments. We will focus on morphology, vascularization, immunology, placental biomarkers, and aneuploidies