To assess the safety and efficacy of adjuvant add-on treatments offered to improve assisted reproductive outcomes, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embriology (ESHRE) appointed a multidisciplinary working group of clinicians, embryologists and expert researchers. Patient representatives were also included in the working group.

To ensure that the guidelines are evidence-based, a systematic literature review was conducted. In the absence of clear scientific evidence, the recommendations were based on professional experience and consensus of the working group. Prior to publication, they were reviewed by 46 independent international experts.

Following the review, the working group formulated 42 recommendations which were divided into 3 sections: diagnostic tests, laboratory tests, and interventions and clinical practice. The authors state that none of them are based on conclusive, high-quality studies, but they may be useful to provide some guidelines for health professionals working in the field of reproductive medicine. The goal of these best practices is to ensure that reproductive treatments are maximally effective and safe and that the patient can make informed decisions based on realistic expectations.