International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) and the World Health Organization (WHO) revised glossary of ART terminology, 2009∗
Received 9 September 2009; received in revised form 9 September 2009; accepted 9 September 2009. published online 14 October 2009.
Objective
Many definitions used in medically assisted reproduction (MAR) vary in different settings, making it difficult to standardize and compare procedures in different countries and regions. With the expansion of infertility interventions worldwide, including lower resource settings, the importance and value of a common nomenclature is critical. The objective is to develop an internationally accepted and continually updated set of definitions, which would be utilized to standardize and harmonize international data collection, and to assist in monitoring the availability, efficacy, and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) being practiced worldwide.
Method
Seventy-two clinicians, basic scientists, epidemiologists and social scientists gathered together at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in December 2008. Several months before, three working groups were established asresponsible for terminology in three specific areas: clinical conditions and procedures, laboratory procedures, and outcome measures. Each group reviewed the existing International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology glossary, made recommendations for revisions and introduced new terms to be considered for glossary expansion.
Result(s)
A consensus was reached on 87 terms, expanding the original glossary by 34 terms, which included definitions for numerous clinical and laboratory procedures. Special emphasis was placed in describing outcome measures, such as cumulative delivery rates and other markers of safety and efficacy in ART.
Conclusion(s)
Standardized terminology should assist in analysis of worldwide trends in MAR interventions and in the comparison of ART outcomes across countries and regions. This glossary will contribute to a more standardized communication among professionals responsible for ART practice, as well as those responsible for national, regional, and international registries.
aUnit of Reproductive Medicine, Clinicas las Condes, Santiago, Chile
bFertility Physicians of Northern California, Palo Alto and San Jose, California
cINSERM U822, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre Cedex, Paris, France
dSaitama Medical University Hospital, Moroyama, Saitana, Japan
fIVF Unit, Sophiahemmet Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
gPerinatal and Reproductive Epidemiology and Research Unit, School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
hDepartment of Reproductive Health and Research and the Special Program of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Reprint requests: F. Zegers-Hochschild, Unit of Reproductive Medicine, Clinica las Condes, Lo Fontecilla, 441, Santiago, Chile (FAX: 56-2-6108167).
F.Z.-H. has nothing to disclose. G.D.A. has nothing to disclose. J.d.M. has nothing to disclose. O.I. has nothing to disclose. R.M. has nothing to disclose. K.N. has nothing to disclose. E.S. has nothing to disclose. S.V. has nothing to disclose.
The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology receives funding from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, the Fertility Society of Australia, the Latin American Network of Assisted Reproduction, the Japan Fertility Society, and the Middle East Fertility Society.
This glossary is simultaneously published in Human Reproduction (Vol. 24, Iss. 11).
ABSTRACT