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Kristin Soliz Harper English 1102-XX 1 March 2012 Operation Test Tube Baby To many, the birth of a child can be one of lifes best moments. While childbirth comes naturally in most cases, infertility, age, and other things can impede this process. Scientists have fabricated a process known as In Vitro Fertilization to combat these hurtles. In Vitro Fertilization, also known as IVF, is a method in which a doctor extracts eggs and sperm from both partners for artificial fertilization. Once these materials are taken, they are mixed inside of a lab and then placed back into the mothers uterine wall to begin development. In Vitro has allowed families to fulfill their dreams of starting a family where naturally, it was impossible. While critics say IVF dampens adoption rates and discards millions of usable eggs, more couples continue to try this new way of artificial insemination. Further evidence of IVFs prevalence is stated by Vogel: Despite the exorbant price, over four million babies worldwide have been born through IVF to date (qtd. in Kumar 13). In Vitro Fertilizations are significant scientific discoveries because they completely modified the reproduction process and gave a new hopeful outlook to potential parents. In Vitro Fertilizations present infertile couples with an opportunity to take charge of their reproductive life. From childhood, humans are taught the value of procreation and its role in society. As adulthood arrives, humans set out to begin a family of their own. While most of the worlds population remains fertile, infertility can wreak havoc on infertile couples. Upon receiving the news of sterility, a couple may feel hopeless and depressed. Anxiety may set in as a family realizes they may never produce a child of their own. In some instances, one or both

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parties may feel infertility is their fault; however, infertility remains a medical condition and it no ones fault. Agreeing with this, Georgia Reproductive Specialists state, As a result of taking responsibility for the emotional impact of the infertility, the woman experiences intense feelings, such as pain, anger, fear, etc., which, combined with the messages that her way of dealing with things is in some way dysfunctional or "crazy", causes her to feel an anxious depression (The Emotional Effects of Infertility). Until the late 1900s, infertility left couples at the mercy of adoption and foster homes. Upon the discovery of In Vitro Fertilization, couples could now alternatively conceive a child of their own and begin a family. Angst due to infertility diminished with the introduction the IVF process. The process of IVF is beneficial to couples who cannot successfully conceive naturally. Before the invention of IVF, those who could not get pregnant had limited options at their disposal. These options included surrogacy, sperm donors and adoption, all of which lent someone elses DNA into the equation. Causes of infertility include many diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases, blocked fallopian tubes, and sterile sperm. Infertility has become a rapidly increasing problem among couples hoping to conceive. Evidence of this exponential problem is stated by the CDC in that 7.3 million women in the United States alone aged 15-44 have impaired fecundity (qtd. Kumar 13). As couples consider their options, more and more are choosing IVF because of its advantages. Couples, who wish to conceive, must first weigh the costs and benefits of alternative reproductive assistance other than IVF. With the consideration of these alternatives to natural conception, come complex emotions. According to IVF.Net, There are many complex emotions that you will be encountering as you are anticipating your IVF cycle. If you are using donor eggs, donor sperm, or a surrogate, the emotions that you have will be even more splintered, as

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you also must consider the weight of genetics in this equation (Emotionally and Physically Preparing for IVF). One possible solution to infertility is by the use of a sperm donor. If the male partner suffers from infertility, this is a viable option. Sperm donation replaces the male counterparts DNA with its own. This option remains problematic however due to risks and downfalls. One possible risk associated with sperm donations, involves the possibility of hereditary deficiencies being passed down into ones offspring. A recessive trait, which may not show in the donor, may very well affect the child. Another probable risk includes the rights that a donor may acquire through the process. As the adolescent grows, the donor may feel as if he should be entitled to visitation or rights of that nature. Also, sperm donation can hinder a healthy relationship between the actual father and the child. Because the sperm came from someone other than him, he may feel distant to the child. By choosing a donor over IVF, these complications may arise. Another decision couples must ponder is whether to choose IVF or the surrogacy method. Surrogacy takes place when an infertile female decides to allow another woman to carry her child from embryo until birth. Unlike IVF, in surrogacy, the mother fails to experience the crucial bond that develops while carrying a child. One complication of this method involves personal attachment. Emotions may not surface until the baby arrives. Once the child is born, the surrogate may feel as if they cannot give the baby up. This is problematic because while she may have an emotional bond with the infant, she ultimately must give him or her away. This handing over may complicate things because the surrogate could become depressed and suffer from separation anxiety. In addition to emotional defects, hopeful mothers often have a difficult time finding surrogates. Carrying another persons child for nine months is not a simple task.

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Because both sperm donation and surrogacy involve multiple risks, IVF remains a more beneficial approach to infertile solutions. While many infertile pairs seek IVF as a possible solution, those against IVF argue that the process is unethical. Critics claim that the disposal of eggs is the disposal of human life and choosing the healthiest of the bunch is unethical because the others die off; however, this is not the case. The majority of the remaining healthy eggs are frozen for later or donated to those in need of them. Religious affiliations also strongly disagree with IVF. According to Marin Basic, author of Ethical Aspects in the Area of Assisted Reproduction, Catholicism is of the opinion that the gift of life should be accomplished in marriage and it is specific and exclusive through the act performed by a husband and wife. The act of a donor is taken as morally ill, together with embryo use in commercial and experimental purposes, their freezing and insemination (171) . Strongly devout followers believe the IVF toys with the value of life and should not be practiced. Also, religious believers as a whole believe that childbearing is sacred and should involve a husband and wife, nothing more. Kumar states, While there are controversies surrounding the topic, IVF is generally accepted as an ethical, beneficial practice and is commonly considered a solution to infertility (12). In vitro fertilization remains ethical despite outside judgment. Another motive couples have to choosing IVF lies in the procedure itself. Little to no surgery takes place other than a laparoscopy, or incision through the navel, to remove the eggs. Despite the controversy that surrounds IVF, it remains the best option for infertile couples. Although in vitro fertilization takes place with minimal incisions, health risks do exist. The chief downfall of IVF lies in failure to conceive. While women under the age of 35 have a 32% success rate, some couples must try multiple times to finally conceive. Another risk associated

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with the IVF process lies in the potential of multiple embryos. Because up to six eggs are implanted in a single procedure, the chance of twins, triplets, or quintuplets dramatically increases. The story of Kate Josh and Miranda Crawford epitomizes the possibility of multiples. After successfully utilizing IVF for their first child, they decided to try for another child. To their surprise, Miranda became pregnant with quintuplets. According to Mirandas physician, Typically one or two embryos are inserted into a woman's uterus during one round of IVF. Even then, the patient has about a 60 percent chance of getting pregnant at all. But both embryos had split in Miranda's uterus to create two sets of identical twins (Conley). While there are risks associated with IVF, these cons are minimal compared to risks of other conception procedures. In addition to aiding infertility, in vitro fertilization helps couples to produce a child of their own by providing a higher chance of pregnancy. One chief reason couples opt for IVF rather than adoption is due to an innate longing for a child of ones own. Many humans believe our sole purpose is to produce offspring. This mentality becomes hampered by things such as infertility, age and disease. When natural conception cannot occur, alternatives must be sought out. While some couples decide to begin the process for adoption, the choice is not for everyone. Some pairs feel uneasy about sharing a child with the biological parents, claiming that it may confuse the child. The adoptive parents may also feel as if the baby does not rightly belong to them as their own. Deborah H. Siegal, author of Social Work, exemplifies this in an interview with an adoptive mother, A mother of an 18 month old recalled that during the babys first nine months, she was acutely aware that the baby had come from another womans body and felt that it impeded bonding (15). Opposition to IVF argues that other alternatives including sperm donations and surrogacy are other viable options; however, many couples who cannot conceive would prefer offspring with their own genetic makeup. Another reason why couples may opt for

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IVF rather than adoption is time. The adoption process can take years to complete, whereas, the IVF process generally takes around a year, including 9 months of pregnancy. In the time that one could be carrying a child of their own, adoptive parents may miss out on major milestones in a young toddlers life due to the lengthy adoption process. In vitro fertilization provides a better chance of becoming pregnant and produces a child of the same genetics as the couple who longs to conceive. The IVF process yields the conception of healthy babies to longing parents. Although critics argue that the in vitro process can harm the babies health, this is not the case. Once the artificial insemination is complete, the embryo grows in the same way as a natural conception. Because IVF involves both parents DNA, health defects that arise would appear with or without In Vitro. Also, damaged sperm or eggs derived from infertility can account for negative health defects that occur. To combat these adversaries, mothers who undergo IVF are constantly monitored. Once the egg embeds itself within the uterine wall, daily blood samples are taken to assess the embryo conditions. In order to provide a healthier atmosphere, fertility doctors often prescribe new IVF mothers vitamins and supplements to assure the babies chief health. A study done by the Eastern Virginia Medical School of Reproductive medicine exemplifies this. As shown by their study of the earliest IVF babies, Compared with other young adults in that age group, those conceived through IVF were found to be "healthy and well adjusted with no prevalence of increased susceptibility to chronic diseases(Jennifer and Bob). Because precautions are taken to ensure IVF embryotic health, IVF babies remain healthy. As test tube babies mature into adulthood, they lead fairly normal lives. Through adolescence, they find their niches just as any other child does. Often times, people wonder whether or not children who are products of IVF get picked on; however, children tend to pick

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more tangible issues to bully over. As a child, I never got teased about how my existence came about because most of my fellow classmates were not educated about IVF. Because of how I was made, my parents wanted me and this generally kept the bullies at bay. Although critics state that IVF babies can be picked on, this is not the case. In vitro fertilization also allows couples to decide an exact time at which to conceive. In doing so, couples who partake in IVF have time to prepare financially, emotionally, and mentally for a baby or babies. The IVF process often places more than one egg within the uterus and couples are warned of the possibility of multiples. Noted by Gillian M. Lockwood, author of Social Egg Freezing: The Prospect of Reproductive 'Immortality' or a Dangerous Delusion, The majority of couples seeking fertility treatment express a desire for more than one child and are well aware of the problems and hazards associated with twins(334). There are a handful of incidences when eggs may be collected upon request. Oftentimes, when a spouse deploys within the military, doctors recommend they leave behind sperm or eggs to be frozen in the case they do not return. The process of egg freezing allows for couples to decide when to become pregnant. In addition to this, some women have begun to freeze their eggs in their twenties to have later in their life. By freezing their eggs, these women can utilize them well into their forties and even after illnesses like cancer. These eggs can be collected and used even if the woman they belong to becomes infertile. According to a study that the British Fertility Society conducted, resulting babies may potentially be healthier if frozen embryos are transferred rather than fresh embryos (Frozen Embryos Healthier). Egg freezing benefits the donor because doing so, keeps them from having to undergo egg extraction later in life. Criticizers of egg freezing assert that the process disregards human life by allowing them to stop development; however, Laverge and Overview explain that during IVF, embryos are implanted at day 2-3 of development during

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which the embryo is still an undifferentiated cluster of 4-8 cells (qtd in Kumar 13). By allowing the couple to freeze their eggs, they can choose the most optimum time to conceive. In vitro fertilization has immensely altered some lucky families. While success is not guaranteed, success stories do exist. Because of IVF, families across the globe have a child to love and to care for. An example of this is the story of Mark and Kelly Soliz. After trying conceiving for 2 years, the young couple assumed they could not produce naturally. The Soliz family contemplated giving up until Marks brother and sister-in-law became pregnant. With this extra push, and the help of insurance, they decided to try one last time. After months of grueling tests, anxiety, and tears, Kelly received the news that she was finally pregnant. She did all within her power to keep this embryo happy and healthy. As a precaution, she even avoided scalding baths in fear of singing the baby. Daily shots were given to ensure optimum hormone levels and meals were strategically healthy. When the child entered this world, Kelly knew the money, time, and effort had more than paid for itself. Their decision to go through with IVF rewarded them day by day with the presence of their daughter. Because this couple was willing to give IVF a shot, they were given the best gift; life. Because its benefits far outweigh the costs, IVF remains the most popular way to conceive artificially. While other methods of conception exist, IVF remains a popular forerunner because of its high success rate and promising process. For couples who long to have a child with their genetic makeup, IVF may be their last resort. According to Kelly Soliz, mother of an IVF baby, After you were born, it was 100% worth the months of worrying, waiting. Having a baby to love is one of the best experiences a mom can ever know (5). By assisting couples in the process of reproducing, IVF gives parents something they long for, starting a family.

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Works Cited Basic, Marin. Ethical Aspects in the Area of Assisted Reproduction. Scientific Journal of the Faculty of Medicine. 27.3 (2010): 171. EBSCOhost. Web. 16 March 2012. Conley, Mikaela. In Vitro Fertilization Gives Two Sets of Identical Twins to Couple. ABC News. 12 April 2011. Web. 19 April 2012. Emotionally and Physically Preparing for IVF. IVF.Net. 8 December 2008. Web. 19 April 2012. IVF: Frozen Embryo Babies Heavier and Healthier. BBC News. 5 January 2012. Web. 19 April 2012. Jennifer and Rob. Do IVF babies grow up healthy?. The Washington Post. 2010. Washington Post Company. Web. 19 April 2012. Kumar, Vinayak, and Ponzy, Lu. In Vitro Fertilization: A History and Discussion. Penn Bioethics Journal. 7.1 (2011): 12-16. EBSCOhost. Web. 15 March 2012. Lockwood, Gillian M. Social Egg Freezing: The Prospect of Reproductive Immortality or Dangerous Delusion? Reproductive Biomedicine Online. 23.3 (2011): 334. EBSCOhost. Web. 15 March 2012. Seigal, Deborah H. Open Adoption of Infants: Adoptive Parents' Perceptions of Advantages and Disadvantages. Social Work. 38.1 (1193): 15. EBSCOhost. Web. 15 March 2012. Soliz, Kelly. Personal Interview. 17. March 2012. The Emotional Effects of Infertility on the Couple Relationship. Georgia Reproductive Specialists. Web. 19 April 2012.

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