Fertility treatments

• Fertility treatments boost the production of mature eggs, so increases the chance of multiple pregnancies, which carry a risk of complications and could lead to premature or underweight babies.
• Fertility drugs contain FSH and LH to stimulate egg maturation in the ovary
• How does IVF work?

  • High levels of FSH are given
  • Eggs are retrieved before ovulation
  • Eggs are fertilised either by injection of sperm or natural fertilisation with incubation
  • Zygote divides then is implanted back into the uterus
• What are the advantages of IVF?

  • increase chance of pregnancy
  • is safe
  • embryos can be screened for genetic disease
  • unused eggs can be donated
  • allows people to have their own babies
• What are the disadvantages of IVF?

  • multiple pregnancies carry complications
  • does not always work
  • very expensive
  • low success rates
• Ethical concerns of IVF:

  • people may want designer babies
  • embryos are destroyed (could be viewed as new life)