Reshaping Motherhood: A Comprehensive Review of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) and Reproductive Realities in India

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) have significantly transformed reproductive health worldwide, especially in patriarchal settings like India. These technological advances have improved women’s reproductive well-being and reduced the social and psychological burdens of childlessness. In societies where motherhood is closely tied to feminine identity and seen as a key factor in marital success, ARTs have provided women with alternative ways to achieve socially valued motherhood. This article offers a systematic review of existing scholarly literature on ARTs in India, with a focus on in vitro fertilization (IVF) within social and human sciences. The review has two main goals: first, to identify and critically examine the methodological approaches used by researchers to explore women’s experiences with ARTs; and second, to analyse the key theoretical frameworks and conceptual tools employed or developed to understand these experiences. By synthesizing these diverse academic contributions, this review offers essential insights into the methodological and theoretical progress in ART-related research in India. It also suggests directions for future studies aiming to deepen our understanding of women’s reproductive agency and social roles amid technological interventions.