Discuss Reproductive Alternatives - Research Paper Example

Georgia Reproductive Specialists (n.d.) stated, ‘The procedure, called Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval, requires neither hospitalization nor general anesthesia. In order to prepare a proper environment in the woman and to increase the chances of recovering several healthy and mature eggs, the woman will undergo about two weeks of intensive preparation. This will include hormonal therapy with "fertility drugs." Blood tests and ultrasound scans of the ovaries are used to determine the optimal time to retrieve the eggs from the ovary.

This optimal time is just before ovulation when the oocytes are almost ready for fertilization. At the proper time, an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia will allow the females eggs to be visualized by ultrasound and retrieved from the ovary by placing a needle through the vaginal wall. Usually, the eggs will develop into cleaving pre-embryos, whose cells divide 2 or 3 times to become preimplantation embryos (pre-embryos). Using a special catheter, the couples pre-embryos will be passed through the vagina and into the uterus at the time the pre-embryos would normally have reached the uterus (2+ days after retrieval).

After the pre-embryo placement in the uterus, the patient will lie quietly in a bed for about an hour, and then will return home.’ The process of Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval can actually bring about emotional stress and even anxiety. Like other alternatives, it does not guarantee a hundred percent accuracy. It is also said to have serious side effects, however, drawbacks can be prevented once those are immediately detected. Another option that is becoming popular is the surrogate mothering.

Malpani, Annirudha and Malpani, Anjali wrote, ‘The word "surrogate" means substitute or replacement and a surrogate mother is one who lends her uterus to another couple so that they can have a baby. In the West where fewer and fewer babies are offered for adoption, surrogacy is gaining popularity, despite