Controversy of IVF procedure: what to do with excess embryos?

25.05.2015

Every eight seconds, a baby is born in the United States, but for more than 6 million women, infertility makes it difficult to conceive. Some of those couples turn to assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization.

The IVF process can lead to excess embryos. More than a half-million embryos are currently frozen in the United States, according to the government.

After Brian and Amy Hoemeke got married, they started trying to add to their family. Six months later, they thought it was odd that they hadn’t been successful. The couple saw specialists, who pointed them to in vitro fertilization.

"We retrieve the eggs under ultrasound guidance. At the same time, we get the partner’s sperm and then the embryos are created in the lab,” Dr. Miriam Krause of Fertility and Endocrine Associates said.

According to experts, IVF is one of the most expensive options, but also the most common because it has the highest success rate. And fortunately, for the Hoemekes, the procedure was a success. After 10 years of infertility, they have twin boys, Jude and Xavier, on the way.

One of the controversies surrounding IVF is what to do with leftover embryos if a couple split up or have a successful pregnancy. "Obviously these embryos have the potential of being human beings at some point and so we need to know what the couple would want us to do,” Krause said.

The Hoemekes have nine remaining embryos. While they plan to have more children, they are donating two of their remaining embryos to a couple they know.

Another option includes donating the embryos to science, paying a yearly fee to leave the embryos frozen indefinitely, discarding them or donating them anonymously to other couples.

"They can always change the decision at a later point. It's not that they have to stick with this decision,” Krause said.

Some doctors performing IVF restrict how many embryos can be transferred at one time. The goal is to have one healthy pregnancy at a time because of complications due to multiple births.

The U.S. government funds an embryo adoption program to make IVF available to more couples.

Based on: wlky.com