Blog #9: In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has given hope to many women, whom for various reasons are unable to conceive otherwise. While there are health risks for any medical procedure, the benefits outweigh the costs of using IVF, assuming that the fertility treatments are effective. 

If the treatments are successful, the greatest benefit is that these women can have biological children. After all, that is the whole point of undergoing treatments. The joy of having a child is immeasurable. Usually, the women who choose to undergo fertility treatments have a deep longing for children of their own.

Deciding to have fertility treatments is not an easy decision to make. If the treatments are unsuccessful, there can be many drawbacks. Although IVF treatments have gotten cheaper over the years, they are still a bit pricey for the majority of the population. Aside from the waste of money if the treatments are unsuccessful, there are emotional factors involved. A woman may feel strongly disappointed if there are no results. Although IVF has a high success rate, it does not have 100% success rate. Usually, if IVF doesn't work, other methods are most likely ineffective as well. As a result, a woman may be upset and angry at herself. She may feel less of a woman because of her inability to conceive, since childbirth should be a natural process. In addition, the pressures of trying to have a child through fertility treatments may strain a couple’s relationship/marriage. By putting in so much time and effort into conceiving, women tend to neglect their spouses. They become obsessed with the idea of having children that they lose sight of what they already have. 

Overall, women are the ones affected by infertility and fertility treatments. These treatments offer hope, not a guarantee. The greater the hope women have, the greater the disappointment. Ultimately, these women have to make the tough decision of whether or not they want to put themselves through financial and emotional stress for the possibility of having biological children.

Blog #8: In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment that is part of assisted reproductive technology (ART), which is widely used and accepted in society. Although the science and technology has been around for quite some time, with the first person born via IVF in 1978, there are many ethical issues that have not been resolved, and will unlikely be resolved anytime soon. 

While IVF treatments have given hope to many people who yearn to be parents, there are many factors to consider before undergoing treatments. As with all technology, IVF raises many ethical questions in a variety of subjects, ranging from religion to public policy. Amongst these topics, the most important ethical issues in vitro fertilization introduces are anonymity, custody rights, nature vs. nurture, and malpractice. 

Despite the ethical issues, it is highly unlikely that people will stop using IVF anytime soon. As far as fertility treatments go, IVF has an incredibly high success rate. The ART industry has given hope to many people and is still improving to lower the risks and costs for patients. IVF can potentially be less invasive and faster as the physicians develop new techniques in administering the treatments.

When the technology was first introduced, there were very few guidelines and only the wealthy could afford to have this opportunity. Nowadays, there is a medical board regulating fertility procedures. Although it is still quite expensive today, it is much more affordable and accessible than it was back then. As a result, the industry boomed.

The fertility industry has a much bigger role in society than ever before. The technology has boosted our society's fertility rate, which stretches thin our government's resources. Because of this, fertility treatments have a huge impact on the economy, even though this connection is not that obvious.