In vitro fertilization: the last
hope for infertile couples
Imagine yourself in this situation: You have been happily married for 5
years and you have tried several times to have children, but somehow your wife
doesn´t get pregnant. You have already tried other alternatives for getting her
pregnant but they have failed; now, doctors talk to you about one last option
that is very effective called In vitro fertilization. However, you have heard
it is unethical and against your religion, so you and your wife decide to keep
trying in a natural way. She never gets pregnant and you live the rest of your
life wondering how would it have been to be a father (Attention grabber). Reproduction is one of the most important things in
everyone’s life. In vitro fertilization, usually referred to as IVF, is a
common treatment for couples with infertility. For infertile couples that really need it, in vitro fertilization is
the best option to finally start the family that they have always wanted
(thesis statement). In my
following speech I will convince you that In vitro fertilization is the most
successful way to achieve pregnancy for infertile couples that have tried for
many years to have babies without achieving it (Additional information).
In vitro fertilization usually is
used only by couples that have trouble getting pregnant without intervention.
The procedure involves the female partner taking medication to stimulate her
ovaries to produce more eggs than usual. Then, the eggs are harvested
surgically once they have matured. The male partner then produces a sperm
specimen and the sperms are combined in the lab with the woman's eggs. The
embryos are grown in the lab for three to five days and then the most viable
embryos (usually one or two) are transferred back to the woman's uterus. Seven
to ten days later, she takes a pregnancy test. Depending on the circumstances,
the procedure has a roughly 30% success rate each cycle it's tried. But, it can
cost more than $10,000 per cycle.
It might sound too expensive, but
for couples with certain types of infertility, in vitro fertilization gives them
the benefit of increasing tremendously the chances of getting pregnant. A 30%
success rate per cycle doesn´t sound much convincing, but considering their 0%
success chances without this procedure, In vitro fertilization has converted
into an amazing solution for those couples that have tried to have babies for
many years without achieving it. For example, a woman who has blocked fallopian
tubes will have a good chance of getting pregnant through In vitro
fertilization, but almost no chance without intervention. In vitro
fertilization can also be the best choice for men that have a low sperm count
or other impediments to fertilize the egg. Using In vitro fertilization and
implanting already created embryos eliminates the need for the sperm to
navigate the woman’s reproductive tract; increasing this way the chances for
the woman to get pregnant.
In vitro fertilization would also be
the treatment of choice any time a couple decides to use donor eggs, such as if
the woman is suffering from premature ovarian failure or has other issues with
her own supply of eggs. In these cases, the embryos would be created using the
woman's partner's sperm with the donor eggs and then transferred into the
woman's uterus during the correct point of her menstrual cycle.
Besides helping couples to get
pregnant, who in any other way they could never be able to have children, the
in vitro fecundation gives you the opportunity to detect on time genetic
abnormalities en the eggs before transferring them into the mother. Some women
have a high risk of having a baby affected by serious chromosome defects; but
with the new medical technologies, the doctors are now able to test the
chromosomes in each embryo before completing the In vitro fecundation in order
to make sure that viable embryos are being transferred to the mother.
There are still taboos to break down
about in vitro fertilization. The lack of information in some couples has
caused them to refuse to use this amazing procedure to get pregnant. The main
ethical dispute of this procedure is that during most of the treatments, there
may be extra embryos that will never be transferred back to the mother at any
point. The religion and culture have a huge influence on the people who refuse
to use this assisted pregnancy method; that’s why it is very important to first
consult with a professional in order to receive trustful information before
making your decision. However, I believe that the decision has to be made in
mutual agreement by the couple according to their own point of views and
beliefs.
In conclusion, in vitro
fertilization is a very successful procedure that has brought the opportunity
of being parents to many infertile couples from all around the world. The in
vitro fertilization process might not be easy, but it is a possible solution
for those couples that have failed in their fertility treatments. It is very
important to make an informed choice about this procedure and not just refuse
to do it without knowing what it is. Don´t get frustrated if you have problems
to get pregnant. Infertility must not end up your hopes of having a child,
your hopes end up when you say no to in vitro fertilization. (Concluding
remark)
Bibligraphy
"In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Costs, Transfer and More - APA." American Pregnancy Association. Web.
29 June 2014. <http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/ivf.
Tilton, Nan, Todd Tilton, and Gaylen
Moore. “Making miracles: in vitro
fertilization”. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 2009. Print.
Daniels, Kay. "Advantages of In Vitro Fertilization." eHow. Demand
Media, 4 Feb. 2009. Web. 29 June 2014.
<http://www.ehow.com/about_4760556_advantages-vitro-fertilization.html>.
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