Abstract: Disclosed is the use of retinoids such as retinol, all trans retinoic acid, and 9-cis retinoic acid to enhance the success of assisted-reproduction. Administration of retinol to superovulated animals dramatically improved embryo viability and development as well as the pregnancy rates of animals implanted with embryos derived from such animals. Culturing presumptive embryos in vitro in the presence of retinol enhanced development of embryos from the presumptive zygotes compared to presumptive embryos not treated with retinol.