In-vitro Fertilization - Research Paper Example

In-Vitro Fertilization In the United States, approximately 6.1 million people, which are almost 10% women and men of reproductive age, are affected by infertility. This is a condition where the couple lacks the capacity to conceive after a year of sexual intercourse without the use of protection or birth control methods. It is normally caused by one cause or the other between the two partners or a set of factors that prevent the pregnancy from occurring. Infertility diagnosis means that pregnancy is a challenge but not impossibility. Due to this challenge, numerous fertility treatments have been devised to help solve the problem. Modern technologies have come up that help women conceive. These are known as the Assisted Reproductive Technology, and involve the treatment of both the egg and the sperm (Lobo 57). Examples include the intracytoplasmic sperm injection, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which is the most used type among other methods and procedures. This paper will specifically look at In-Vitro Fertilization as a remedy to infertility; discuss how it is used, the conditions that require the use of IVP, treatment and prevention. Its first use was in 1981 in the United States and since then, more than 250 000 new bones have come as a result of its use. It gives a couple a chances of having children who are related to them biologically (Lobo 120). This topic was chosen to help discuss alternatives to conceiving since many couples have had problems of getting their own child. The problem has been so prevalent that other marriages have had to suffer the harsh brutalities of divorcee and all forms of break ups all caused by the problem of infertility. This paper will therefore try to give solutions to this problem and help people get children of their own. Definition In-Vitro Fertilization was invented by Doctors Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe in the United Kingdom. It is a process that involves sperms fertilizing the egg cells outside the mother’s womb in a fluid medium. The fertilized egg, which is at this stage referred to as zygote, is then placed in the mother’s uterus to continue growing until the time of delivery. In-Vitro refers to glass in Latin and this therefore implies that fertilization is done in the test tubes. The first normal birth of Louise Brown, a test tube baby, was reported in 1978. Since then, many successful births have been reported to have resulted due to the use of this technique. In short, the process requires removal of the female ovum and allowing it to be fertilized by the male sperms in a fluid medium. Today, the most commonly used medium for fertilization is the Petri dish, a shallow container made from synthetic resins. The egg is then placed in the mother’s womb for further development until the baby matures and is ready to be borne. Symptoms that require the use of IVF People turn to Assisted Reproductive Technologies when all other natural forms of treatment have failed (Lobo 134). In the past, IVF was used to treat tubal damages but it is today used in the treatment of a wide range of disorders. These include cases of low sperm count in males as a natural condition or caused by vasectomy, blocked fallopian tubes as a result of tubal ligation, endometriosis, reduced ovarian reserve due to low egg count and unexplained infertility, a condition whereby the real cause of infertility can not be established. Why IVF is Used This technique is normally used to help the couples that are unable to get children bear children of their own. It increases the human reproduction efficiency for those that have lower reproduction efficiency. The technique takes a number of eggs which are fertilized after 3-5 days. They are then put back to the uterus. The remaining eggs are frozen for later use incase the couple needs another child. In essence, this technique works to compress several attempts of natural conception to just one menstrual cycle. Fertility among men having sperm related problems and women with problems associated with picking of the eggs from the ovaries and transport of the embryo is improved through the direct transfer of fertilized egg into the uterus. Thus, IVF forces the body to generate numerous eggs and follicles, contrary to the normal menstrual cycle that produces only one egg inside a follicle (Lobo 134). When the eggs mature, they are removed from the ovaries, a condition which is usually inefficient naturally. Forceful fertilization is then carried out in the lab, whereby in natural conditions this can be a challenge. The embryos are then cultured for some days after which the best among them is picked. Selecting the best increases the probability of succeeding. Finally, transfer of the embryo to the center of the uterus will by pass the problem of inability of doing so under natural conditions. This is why this technique is preferred. Prevention This technique is normally associated with many risks that require careful monitoring. However, new technologies have been adopted that help to counter these risks. For instance, Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) was invented in the 1990s to improve the efficiency of IVF treatments. Since its invention, many healthy and normal births have taken place. PGD increases the probability of successful marriages among two different categories of patients; those whose infertility is either related to persistent miscarriages or ineffective IVF cycles and those at risk of passing this genetic disorder to their offspring. Another risk associated with the use of IVF is multiple pregnancies. PGD helps to reduce this condition because only a few embryos are required for implantation. Other chromosomal abnormalities are thoroughly screened to ensure the child borne does not have birth defects. For instance, before the embryo’s transfer back to the uterus, cells from the embryo are removed, then assessed for normalcy after which they are then returned to the uterus. In Vitro Treatment Process Pergonal, ovulation induction agents are normally given to mothers in a period of 8-10 days before the treatment starts. These recover numerous egg cells thus increasing the probability of successful fertilization. But then before taking these drugs, a number of eggs are retrieved from the mother either in the morning or at night for careful assessment of the Lutenizing Hormone surge, so as to timely recover the eggs. A treatment cycle usually begins on the 3rd day of menstrual cycle and has a schedule of fertility medications that stimulate the production of numerous ovarian follicles. Injectable gonadotropins are used in most patients but under close monitoring. The monitoring checks the level of estrdiol through gynecologic ultrasonography of follicular growth. Sonographic technique, which involves a sharp needle penetrating inside the vagina and normally guided by an ultra sound is the procedure used to remove the eggs from the mother (Parks 1190). The woman’s follicular fluids are pierced and the follicular fluid is retrieved and taken to the incubator. However, for men, semen is removed and analyzed using a procedure known as the sperm penetration assays, which involves assessing the sperm to if it can pierce a hamster zone stripped egg. The analysis also helps to identify bacteria that may block pregnancy. The egg and the sperm are then incubated together in a fluidic medium where they are expected to fertilize normally for approximately 18 hours (Schneidera, Verza and Estevesa S232). If fertilization does not happen, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a form of assisted fertilization techniques that involves direct injection of the sperm into the egg may be used (Parks 1190). They are then placed in a growth medium for 40 hours until they develop into pre-embryos. The pre-embryos are then moved to the mother’s uterus using a slight plastic catheter that moves across her vagina and cervix through to the uterus. To increase the probability of successful pregnancy, a number of embryos are usually placed in the uterus. However, if this procedure does not work, the mother is given a month to recover after which the procedure is done again, but if it works, she has to wait for a period of two weeks before going for the clinical tests. During this time, the mother is supposed to take progesterone so as to thicken the uterine wall for implantation to take place. Conclusion The problem of infertility in human society is not at all new. This problem has resulted in many would-be parents having to live without children of their own. In view of this prevailing problem, many attempts have been made to come up with practical and viable solutions one of which is In-Vitro Fertilization. Generally, In-Vitro Fertilization is a process that involves sperms fertilizing the egg cells outside the mother’s womb in a fluid medium. IVF has offered solutions to many couples who have been unable to conceive due to one reason or the other. It has enabled couples to successfully get children who are biologically related to them. However each stage of the procedure involves taking a risk, but due to technology, techniques that counter these risks have also been invented ensuring that successful pregnancies take place. IVF also provides a wide range of alternatives for the same sex couples and those who are single and wish to have children. It makes it easier for these people to bear their own children. Women who have also reached the age of menopause can also give birth since it is possible to receive a donation from other women usually known as surrogates and after the egg is fertilized the mother can now carry it and wait up to the time of delivery. Therefore, this technique has provided a range of options to both couples and singles concerning pregnancy. There are those who may argue that IVF is unchristian in many ways. IVF involves masturbation which is deemed sinful and as such, a child resulting from IVF is considered as conceived from sin. In addition, others argue that IVF may involve fertilizing the egg with donor sperms from individuals who may or may not be known to the recipient, which goes contrary to biblical teachings that a child should be a product of a husband and wife. Some conservative Christians also view IVF doctors as playing God. The Holy Bible does not openly criticize or endorse IVF (Dyson, 58) As such, the above mentioned criticisms and many others are just but ethical opinions of humans, which differ from one individual to the next. An IVF doctor does not create the sperms of eggs but only assists in fertilization and so does not play God. One may further argue that it is God who gave man the knowledge and intelligence to make discoveries that could make life on earth easier, IVF being no exception. Works Cited Dyson, Anthony Oakley. The Ethics of IVF. London: Continuum International Publishing Group, 1995. Lobo R.A. Infertility: etiology, diagnostic evaluation, management, prognosis. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. Parks, Jennifer (1996). "A closer look at reproductive technology and postmenopausal motherhood". CMAJ 154 (8): 1189–91. Schneidera D.T., Verza S. Jr. and S.C. Estevesa. “Single or sequential medium are equally effective for the culture of human embryos to the blastocyst stage: A pilot study”. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 92, Issue 3, Supplement 1, September 2009, Pages S231-S232 Read More