Invitro Fertilization
Below is one of our free research papers on Invitro Fertilization. If the term paper below is not exactly what you're looking for, you can search our essay database for other topics or order a custom essay.
Invitro Fertilization
Everyday, doctors and surgeons encounter ethical issues. With today’s medical technology, couples who are unable to conceive children naturally can use artificial reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization as an alternative. In vitro fertilization is basically making a baby outside of the mother’s body by uniting sperm and egg inside a laboratory. By doing so, natural sexual conception is bypassed (Johnson 2005). When it comes to a procedure as controversial as in vitro fertilization, a major ethical issue comes up; should couples who cannot conceive naturally be allowed to use in vitro fertilization (using their own sperm and eggs) to have children?
In today’s world, in vitro fertilization is an increasingly popular alternative to natural conception. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is basically a technique where egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside of the woman’s womb (Johnson 2005). The process involves controlling the ovulation process using hormones and drugs, removing eggs from the woman's ovaries, and then fertilizing them with the father’s sperm in a fluid medium (Johnson 2005). The fertilized egg, or embryo, is then transferred to the natural mother’s or a surrogate mother’s uterus. From this point on, the embryo develops naturally (Johnson 2005). If done properly, the result will be a successful pregnancy, and a perfectly healthy baby will be born.
When it comes to in vitro fertilization, many different combinations of sperm, egg, and host mother are possible. The sperm and egg can come from two natural parents, or from donors. The host mother can be the natural mother, or a surrogate mother. Most IVF patients, however, try to use their own sperm and eggs and avoid using a surrogate mother (Johnson 2005).
In vitro fertilization is truly a wonderful alternative for people who cannot naturally have children. The most obvious benefit of IVF is that it helps infertile couples have children. With the help of IVF, couples with...
- Submitted by: gnarlytothemax
- Date Submitted: 05/18/2008 03:57 PM
- Category: Science
- Words: 1139
- Pages: 5
- Views: 304
- Rank: 77067