stored%20embryos.jpgThis December 30 Times Online article was both upsetting and encouraging.
It stated that in the last 14 years, 1.2 million embryos fertilized for in vitro fertilization have been destroyed, due to overproduction or damage:

As many as 40 eggs can be [retrieved] in some treatments and all are fertilised in IVF.
The embryos are then assessed for viability, with only about 20% usually considered strong enough to implant successfully in a woman.

I’m not crazy about IVF and there’s a new reason why….


I didn’t realize the percentage of weak or injured embryos was so high. No wonder doctors are overfertilizing them.
The upside of the story were the solutions mentioned: decrease the number of eggs fertilized; work harder to promote embryo adoption. Not once was embryonic stem cell experimentation mentioned. Refreshing.
Also helpful is news that the success rate of freezing unfertilized eggs is increasing.
Other good news is the IVF industry is said to be reanalyzing the invasive and potentially dangerous drug/hormone injection regimen it puts women through as well as entering “an era of single-embryo transfers,” which will ease complications of manufactured pregnancies with multiples.
[HT: moderator Valerie]

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...