In Vitro Fertilization Angfei Li

Background Overview Assisted reproductive technology. Combine an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transfer the embryo to the uterus. The egg is fertilized by the sperm outside of the body. Takes about 9 weeks in total.

Background Why? Infertility Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes http://whereivf-fertilization.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ivf_science.jpg

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Procedures - Injection Drug injected to stop the woman’s normal menstrual cycle. Once a day for three weeks FSH injected to stimulate the ovaries to develop many follicles. Once a day or 10-12 days HCG injected to loosen the egg in the follicles and to make them mature. 36 hours before egg collection.

Procedure – Egg and Sperm The man who provides semen ejaculates into a jar. Sperm are processed to concentrate the healthiest ones. Eggs are extracted by inserting a device through the wall of the vagina. Each egg is mixed with a sperm in a dish which is kept overnight in an incubator.

Process – cont. Check to see if the fertilization worked. Embryos are selected and placed into the uterus. A long plastic tube. Pregnancy test To see if any embryos have implanted Scan If the pregnancy is going normally. Visible heart beating.

Ethical Issues Inherited forms of infertility might be passed on. Against IVF For IVF Inherited forms of infertility might be passed on. Some embryos are denied the chance of life. An unnatural process; a laboratory process rather than an act of love. Infertility should be accepted as the wills of god. Most forms of infertility are due to environment and will not likely to be passed on. Those embryos that died do not feel pain or suffer. Strong desire to be parents. Overcomes the unhappiness brought by infertility.

Sources http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/in-vitro- fertilization/ Allott, Andrew. Biology for the IB Diploma: Standard and Higher Level. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.