According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), 1.9% or 73,254 of the 3,855,500 infant births in the US in the year 2017 were made possible with the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). ART is a myriad of procedures that involve the removal of a woman’s eggs from her ovary, the eggs fertilization with a man’s sperm in a laboratory, and the re-insertion of the embryos that form into the woman’s uterus or to that of a surrogate. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the leading example of ART. Variations have emerged like gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). Cryopreservation of embryos is an important aspect of ART.
Despite its successes, ART is not yet widely used. One of the main reasons is the cost. A round of IVF will cost $12,000 that is above the reach of ordinary individuals. If the implantation of the embryo is not successful on the first attempt, more rounds will be needed, and the cost escalates. Other than the cost, ART can lead to multiple pregnancies. In the 2017 data, 14.7% of multiple births (twins, triplets) in the US were attributed to ART. Lastly, the emotional toll on failed ART rounds is high. It can lead to extreme anxiety and depression.
ART will continue to play a role in the
future of reproduction. To make this a reality, there should be a concerted
effort from all stakeholders to address the concerns that are holding ART back.
by Dr. Barry Verkauf, author of the book, Sex, Science, Society, and Reproduction: The Pill that changed America
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