Affordable ART services in Africa: Synthesis and adaptation of laboratory services

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide information, opinions and suggestions on affordable laboratory-orientated fertility screening and treatment. Resource management to provide such services in developing countries, basic and advanced assisted reproductive services and assisted reproduction treatment (ART) of patients with sexually transmitted infections are addressed. Alternative viewpoints and parallel thinking should be encouraged to synthesize and adapt first-world ART guidelines and recommendations into safe and workable directives for developing regions. Affordable African ART programmes, devoid of commercialism, can provide essential sexual health screening services en route to safe fertility services for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) serodiscordant couples (male HIV-positive), who wish to have their own biological child. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.