Epigenetic concerns in assisted reproduction: update and critical review of the current literature

More than 4 million children have been born through the use of human in vitro fertilization (IVF), a technology that emerged only 35 years ago and is still dynamically evolving. Despite its very good initial safety profile, reports of increased prevalence of human perinatal problems and evidence obtained from animal experiments raise concerns that the occurrence of epigenetic anomalies might be increased as a result of infertility etiologies, ovarian stimulation, and extracorporeal handling and culture of gametes and embryos. This issue’s Views and Reviews section aims to describe the basic mechanisms of epigenetics and to summarize the current knowledge obtained from animal experiments and human IVF practice, to shed light on the possible association between epigenetic disturbances and assisted reproduction technologies.