Reproductive Reproductive TechnologiesTechnologies
James G. Anderson, Ph.D.James G. Anderson, Ph.D.
Purdue UniversityPurdue University
DefinitionDefinition• Assisted reproductive technology
(ART) procedures include fertility treatment in which both eggs and sperm are handled in the laboratory, (i.e., in vitro fertilization and related procedures)
GlossaryGlossary• Artificial Insemination (AI) - Introduction
of sperm into the uterus through ways other than sexual intercourse
• In vitro Fertilization (IVF) - Fertilization of the egg outside of the body in a laboratory dish
• Surrogate Mother - A woman who conceives and/or bears a baby for another
GlossaryGlossary• Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
- Gamates (egg or sperm) are injected directly into a woman’s fallopian tubes
• Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT) - Zygotes (fertilized egg) resulting from IVF are introduced directly into the fallopian tubes
GlossaryGlossary
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) – Introducing sperm directly into the uterus
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - A single sperm is injected directly into the center of an egg
• Human Cloning - A cell from a person is injected into a donor’s egg whose nucleus and DNA have been removed
The Baby Making Industry The Baby Making Industry 20012001
• 5.3 million infertile couples
• 421+ fertility clinics
• 107,587 ART cycles
• 29, 344 live birth deliveries in 2001
• 40,687 live babies
• 1 % U.S. infants born in 2001 used assisted reproduced technologies
ART ProceduresART ProceduresPatient’s eggs
Fresh 75%
Thawed 13.7%
Donor Eggs
Fresh 8.0%
Thawed 3.2%
Outcomes of ART 2001Outcomes of ART 2001No. of ART procedures 107,587
No. of transfer procedures
89,239
No. of pregnancies 35,726
No. of live birth deliveries
29,344
No. of infants born 40,687
Ratio of ART procedures per population (million)
371.1
RegulationRegulation• 1979 Government ban on federally
funded embryo research• 1992 Fertility Clinic Success Rate and
Certification Act• 1995 Law enacted that requires clinics
to maintain standardized records of all procedures
• Seven states have mandated insurance coverage
• Many states regulate surrogate contracts
Proposed RegulationsProposed Regulations• Mandate insurance coverage• Restrict the use of reproductive
technologies to married couples• Restrict the use of reproductive
technologies to infertile couples• Require couples to sign a form that
declares them the legal parents upon birth
Proposed RegulationsProposed Regulations• Legislate procedures for disposal of
discarded embryos• Sperm banks would be required to keep
records linking donors and recipients, and to screen donors for infectious diseases
• Prohibit egg donations to women over 50
Social IssuesSocial Issues• Medicalization• Parentage• Regulation of Clinics• Insurance coverage• Disposal of frozen embryos• Eugenics• Cloning• Unregulated industry
IssuesIssues• Clinics• Disclosure • Donor/patient selection• Informed Consent• Record Keeping• Legal rights/obligations of
participants
IssuesIssues• Eugenics• Multiple births• Selective reduction of embryos• Disposition of frozen unused embryos
• Child’s right to know about genetic
parents