Infertility One World Essay

Zara Hirani
Infertility is the inability to get pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse (Your guide to
Female Infertility). Both men and women can be affected by infertility. According to research, 1/3
of the times it is due to female infertility and another 1/3 times it is due to male infertility. There are
several causes of female and male infertility. The most common causes of female fertility are
damaged fallopian tubes endometriosis, and hormonal imbalances. The common causes of male
infertility are low sperm count, problems with
the delivery of sperm and general health and
lifestyle issues(Causes of Infertility)
As can be seen in Fig.1 the world fertility
rates are expected to drop in the coming
years. This is due to the changing lifestyles of
the people around the world and the increased
health issues. However, many new infertility
treatments have been developed.
In-vitro is one advanced treatment that can be given to both males and females for infertility. The
IVF process lasts for four to six weeks. It consists of five stages, as can be seen in Fig.2. In cases of
female infertility, the first stage is
the ovulation induction. Before the
treatment hormone drugs are given
to the women to increase egg
development. These drugs help
control the timing of egg ripening of
multiple eggs. This is because
multiple eggs will be retrieved and
not all will develop or fertilize. The
hormone levels and the development
of the eggs are monitored by blood
tests, urine tests and ultrasounds.
Following this is the procedure of
retrieving the eggs. (IVF Explained).
Fig.1 (TheEconomist)
Fig.2 (Fertilization)
A minor surgical process is done where the eggs are removed from the ovaries with a hollow
needle. The patient is kept under anesthesia to avoid any pain. While the eggs are being retrieved,
the sperm is also retrieved from the male partner through a surgical procedure. The eggs and the
sperm are then combined in a dish to culture and placed in an incubator. The incubator enables
fertilization to occur. In this procedure a single sperm is injected into the egg to attempt fertilization
(Fertility Treatment: In vitro Fertilization). The eggs are regularly monitored to confirm that cell
division is occurring to ensure fertilization. Once the eggs are fertilized, they are considered
embryos. The final step in the process of in-vitro fertilization is the transferring of the embryo into
the females uterus. This process occurs between two to three days after egg retrieval. The process
involves a speculum which is inserted into the vagina for the exposure of the cervix. A certain
number of embryos are suspended in a fluid and placed through a catheter into the womb. An
ultrasound is used to guide the procedure. Fourteen days after the process, the female does a blood
test to check if implantation has occurred and if pregnancy is successful (In Vitro Fertilization:
IVF).
In vitro fertilization has become a very common technological process that has proven to be
effective in many cases. Success rates are increasing as the technology is being tested more. The
greatest advantage of this treatment is that it maximizes a couples chance of conceiving, despite
their medical condition. IVF success rates are much higher for younger women than older women,
as age plays an important role in reproduction. Furthermore, IVF allows for multiple birth of
children(Benefits and Risks). For instance, if a couple wishes to have another child later on, but
are unable to due the medical condition, the eggs retrieved from the female can be frozen for
another procedure of implantation and pregnancy. Also, the process of in-vitro fertilization
increases the chances of having twins by 25%. This is beneficial as it allows for the birth of more
than one child in one process of pregnancy.
However, with all the benefits of IVF, there are several risks involved. Firstly, the IVF process is
very expensive, which means that only couples who can afford it will use this method of treatment.
Also, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the rates of an ectopic
pregnancy with IVF is about 5% which is four times greater that normal pregnancy. Since IVF
increases the chance of multiple births such as twins and triplets, it also increases the risks of
complications due to multiple pregnancies such as miscarriage and premature labor. Additionally,
studies show that IVF infants have a 9% risk of birth defects whereas normal pregnancies have
4.2% (Benefits and Risks). Again, in vitro fertilization does not have a 100% success rates. There
are many factors that affect the success rate. For a women under 35 the success rate is 30-35%
whereas women older than 35 have an even lower rate of success. In cases of severe medical
conditions, it is likely for the IVF treatment to be unsuccessful(In-Vitro Fertilization:IVF). The
process of IVF itself has numerous side effects. While trying to stimulate the ovaries in stage one
there is a risk of developing Ovarian hyper-fertility drug syndrome. OHSS can be a dangerous
conditions with symptoms including pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, sudden weight gain and reduced
urine production. In severe cases it can cause breathing difficulties and can result in being life
threatening(High Does of Hormones Faulted in Fertility Case).
There are several economical and ethical factors associated with the process of in-vitro fertilization.
The use of treating infertility with in-vitro is extremely expensive. Couples seeking to treat
infertility with IVF in the US, on average, will spend $12,000. The cost includes the expenses for
everything offered in the treatment, from blood tests, tablets, ultrasounds to the extraction of the
eggs and the development of the embryo in the incubator(Fertility Treatment:In-vitro
Fertilization). This is beneficial because it allows a couple to have a child despite the inability, due
to certain medical conditions. Even though it is expensive, couples who are able to afford it will
benefit from it greatly as the treatment is effective and it does allow them to have a child of their
own. Not having children can impact marital lives of many, it can emotionally and psychologically
have a negative impact. Hence, those who can afford this treatment will do so in order to avoid such
problems(The emotional impact of fertility problems). However, infertility is a problem world
wide affecting many people in many different countries. The greatest problem with the process of
IVF is that it is costly. Majority of the people affected by infertility will not be able to afford the
advanced treatment of IVF. The general population in the third world countries such as India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and many of the African countries are unable to pay for IVF. Every couple has
the desire to have their own child but due to poor financial conditions, theyre unable to pay for it.
Even in developed countries such as the UK, Canada and US governments who provide free health
care for their citizens do not pay for the treatment of IVF, simply because it is too expensive.
The use of technology to create an embryo has raised many ethical questions. When a natural
process is hindered by human technology, the question of ethics always rises. Several eggs are
retrieved from the womens body to increase the chance of successful implantation, although only
some are used, while others are frozen or disposed. The idea of embryo disposal raises many
controversies(The Social & Ethical Issues - Right or Wrong?). Its believed that human life is
created when conception occurs. When an egg fertilizes with a sperm, life is created. Therefore,
discarding embryos is not ethical as it is killing human life. An embryo is not fully formed and
hence it cant speak or move, though, it still has a soul and humans do not possess the right to
terminate life (Dayson, 88). Also by using IVF to treat infertility can possibly cause damage to the
unborn child and potentially kill it due to the risks involved with the process (Dayson, 89). On the
contrary, unused embryos can help immensely in stem cell research. Theyre considered an
important resource for studying developmental biology and cell replacement therapy. This way the
embryo will not be thrown away and will be donated to for the use in scientific research.
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