IVF is an acronym for in vitro fertilization. “In vitro” means “in glass.” After many years of research, the first IVF baby was delivered successfully on 25th July 1978. Since then, the field medical field has experienced drastic changes.
People are now used to IVF, and there are high chances that you might be tagged “archaic” if you still call children born through IVF as “test tube babies.” We all know that IVF is a highly systemized method of child reproduction, and it has been widely accepted across the world. Currently, over six million babies have been conceived through this method.
In 2018, over 100,000 babies were conceived through in vitro fertilization in Germany.
The stigma involved in the IVF story has faded already as children conceived via IVF have all grown to outwit the imaginations of people. Louis Brown, the first baby conceived through this method, was forty years old in 2018, and there is much similarity between her and other kids designed in the usual way. Her birth brought a massive change in the perception of people about IVF conception.
Today, people are no longer oblivion that these “test tube babies” are like every other baby. Before the IVF breakthrough, the media had published several articles warning people about the dangers of IVF, the stigmatization that comes with it, and the dignity of the parents. Today, they are the greatest worshippers of the IVG uptrend. They were not hesitant in announcing Louis Brown as the “baby of the century.” The daily express in one of their news releases labeled her “beautiful baby.”
Everyone can attest that she is strong, healthy, intelligent, with good psychomotor, cognitive, and affective abilities; you would never know if you are ignorant that she is an IVF Baby conceived through the assisted method.
Families can now comfortably plan their baby conception via the IVG within being perturbed about the opinion of the public.
One could say that IVF has normalized and people have become used to it. The advent of IVF has banished the frustrations, pains, and anguish involved in infertility. Barrenness is now a choice for families as families can easily arrange IVF plans. In several countries, between 3% to 6% of babies have been conceived through IVF, and the number does not seem to decrease.
The Giant Strides:
Myriad of IVF clinics are sprouting up everywhere, and there is a plethora of evidence that fertility business will be very profitable. Medical researchers have perfected their strategies, and a more sophisticated approach to IVF are steaming up. Many customized and specific methods can now be used in the treatment of particular couples with peculiar reproductive problems. There are indicators that there is no shortage of clients, and the trend is likely to continue. People no longer suffer in silence, and the awareness about reproductive medicine has increased drastically.
In the UK, IVF conception has been furnished by the establishment of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act of 1990, which was set-up to control and regulate IVF and embryo-related research.
A release by the world health organization indicates that the infertility rate is on the increase. With this, it is apparent that IVF is the hope of last resort for people with infertility issues. This is in bright contrast with the perception of people during the early days of the IVF. Proven beyond doubt that a lot of people were skeptical about it and many high ranking authorities even opposed it. The fast pace of growth and the extent of acceptance of the IVF conception is quite alarming.
Key challenges to overcome before IVF can take over the future.
A big challenge for reproductive medicine is the ability for older women to conceive. Women above 40 years of age are not as old as their egg, and this can worsen the situation. Medically, the female egg older that the person by six months because the eggs start developing when the fetus is half a year old. Eggs perform a more significant role in reproduce medicine than the sperm, and this is why there are more occurrences of donor eggs. More research needs to be carried out because the majority of the women now resort to donor eggs overseas for fertilization. Another major challenge is the tango between reproductive medicine and socio-political and cultural beliefs.
IVF is likely to face stiff resistance in a plethora of places such as Africa, Asia, etc. In the midst of this, the issue of embryo donation, egg donation, and genetic test of egg cells are considered by many countries as illegal. They treat it with the utmost discretion. In such states, women who wish to donate eggs can only do so by traveling out of their countries. In reproductive medicine, the scientists have unlimited access to the genetic embryos, the paper cells, and the eggs at the initial stage. There are high chances for abnormal conditions to be corrected at the genetic stage to manipulate the cells to function in a way that suits them. This is quite disturbing as it implies playing with the life of humans.
Here comes the big question…. Will IVF ever rule the world?
It is quite glaring that the IVF is still struggling for full acceptance in some countries, and many issues require more research. I mean tricky matters. For instance, there are limitations to the productivity of embryos. Some of them may not be able to implant themselves in the womb for pregnancy to occur. Many fetuses are anomalous genetically and cannot be useful in reproductive medicine.
A typical example is the embryo of a 40-year-old, which 60% of the embryos are abnormal. For 45 years older women, about 90% of the embryos are not valid for reproduction. Genetically abnormal eggs cannot be used for IVF, and it would be very absurd to give it a try.
Complicated as it is, the issue needs more research to be done if IVF is to become a vital cog in human reproduction in the future. Please do let us know what to think about the topic and give us some reasons to.
