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Since the June 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, which eliminated the federal right to abortion, legislative attention has shifted to assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) following the Alabama Supreme Court decision. It also extends to many other aspects of reproductive rights, including access to reproductive rights. A verdict will be handed down in February 2024.
Heidi Collins Fantasia, associate professor and dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, explains how this decades-old process works and what its tenuous legal status is for prospective parents. Explain what it means.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization is a type of artificial reproductive technology that allows people with various fertility problems to conceive a child. This involves fertilizing an egg and sperm outside the body to form an embryo, which is then implanted in the uterus to develop.
Although in vitro fertilization is used as a treatment for infertility, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine defines infertility as a treatment for infertility based on “the patient’s medical history, reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic tests” or “medical necessity.” It is defined as the inability to become pregnant. intervention. “
Although IVF was originally developed as an infertility treatment for blocked fallopian tubes, it is now used for other conditions, such as when the sperm count is low or the cause of infertility cannot be determined. LGBTQ people and single parents can also use IVF and other reproductive technologies to expand their families.
How does IVF work?
Typically, during IVF, patients receive hormones to stimulate their ovaries to produce eggs. After a medical professional uses ultrasound and a thin needle to retrieve the eggs, sperm can be incubated with the eggs or sperm can be injected into the eggs in a laboratory to fertilize them. The decision about which type of IVF surgery a patient will undergo is made individually with their healthcare provider.
Scientists began developing in vitro fertilization in the 1930s, beginning with the procedure’s live births in rabbits and mice. This research ultimately led to his birth of the first “test tube baby” in 1978. Physiologist Robert Edwards won his 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his in vitro fertilization research.
This technology has expanded rapidly since the birth of the first living human being through in vitro fertilization. The development of cryopreservation, the freezing of human eggs and embryos, has allowed people to pursue pregnancy late in life. Genetic screening of cells from developing embryos can identify inherited diseases and abnormalities.
The chances of a successful birth with assisted reproductive technology vary. Success rates vary depending on many factors, including the underlying cause of infertility, age, and the type of technique used.
Who currently has access to IVF?
The use of IVF has steadily increased since it was first introduced. In 2015, approximately 2% of all infants in the United States were conceived as a result of IVF, and public support for IVF is generally high.
Approximately 10% of women in the United States have used some type of fertility treatment service to conceive. This includes fertility advice, ovulation-stimulating drugs, fertility tests, surgery, and in vitro fertilization.
Because infertility increases with age, women over 35 typically use these services more frequently than younger women. Women in the U.S., who have the least access to fertility treatments, are often non-U.S. citizens, uninsured, and typically have lower incomes and less education than women receiving fertility treatment.
Geographical differences also affect access to IVF. In 2021, more than 5% of all infants were born through IVF in Massachusetts, but that number dropped to less than 1% in New Mexico, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Service availability and insurance coverage for IVF procedures vary by state, which may explain some of the differences in usage. A few states require private insurance companies to cover IVF. Public insurance coverage for infertility treatment is even lower.
The cost of IVF is the biggest barrier to infertility treatment. Out-of-pocket costs for an uninsured person can range from more than $10,000 per cycle to $25,000 per cycle, and the cost per cycle is increasing.
How does the debate about the beginning of life affect IVF?
Political views differ on reproductive rights, and access to IVF is likely to be an issue in future election cycles.
In February 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created during in vitro fertilization are human. The ruling, which currently applies only to Alabama, has caused shock, confusion and concern among health care professionals.
As a result of the ruling, two major IVF providers in Alabama suspended infertility treatments, citing potential legal risks to the providers. A major concern is whether medical providers could be held liable for wrongful death if the frozen embryos do not survive the thawing process.
Since the Roe v. Wade reversal eliminated federal protections for abortion in 2022, states have enacted their own laws regarding abortion access. Many patients, health care providers, researchers, and lawmakers view Alabama’s decision regarding in vitro fertilization as a continuation of increasing violations of women’s reproductive rights.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization that provides facts and trusted analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.Author: Heidi Collins Fantasia Lowell University
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Heidi Collins Fantasia is the editor of Nursing for Women’s Health.
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