Introduction
The rate of infertility among modern couples has increased significantly. This has caused most young families to turn to fertility–induced reproduction. Infertility refers to the inability to conceive for more than a year of unprotected intercourse. Induced or assisted reproduction refers to a treatment against infertility that involves clinical manipulation of both the egg and sperm.
Assisted Reproduction Technology Description and Categories
It is an alternative propagation process turned to in the case of failed normal fertility. This method of reproduction has to be recommended by the doctor. This happens after a thorough medical evaluation of the female pelvic and male genital organs as noted by Peter Brinsden (2005, 16). The doctors take several tests including the microbiological test (Elder, Ribes & Baker, 2005). The method uses stimulating drugs to induce ovulation, egg fertilization, transfer of gamete in the fallopian tube and gamete cryopreservation. Several forms/ categorized of assisted reproduction got studied and documented. They are:
Surrogacy – This is when one needs another person to carry their unborn child for them. It is a contract-based legal agreement between the client’s family and the surrogate parent. There are two types of surrogacy – gestational surrogacy or In Vitro fertilization and traditional surrogacy commonly known as artificial insemination (Erickson, 2005, p. 8). In both cases, either the female egg or male sperm get donated.
Sperm donation – There cannot be any conception minus the male sperm centrosome which incorporates with the female chromosomes about 3 to 5 hours after insemination. In this surrogacy, the client’s family and the male surrogate legally agree to exchange the male sperm. The sperm gets used by the purchasing couple for either artificial or In vitro fertilization (Guelman, Tucker & Patrizio, 2003).
Egg donation – A female substitute either donates her egg or accepts the male sperm from the contracting family. The surrogate parties enter into a legal contract. This helps them to deal with legal disputes that may occur during separation or divorce. (Kindregan & McBrien, 2006). This practice is popular with gay marriages.
Clinical Procedures in Assisted Reproduction
The success of this alternative propagation process depends on the quality of clinical care provided. It gets clarified that the usage of this practice has led to many people seeking treatment (Serhal & Overton, 2004). When we talk about clinical procedures we mean both the diagnostic and treatment clinical procedures. The issue is infertility. The procedure may require several consultative meetings between the couple and their doctor. In the first visit, the doctor assesses the couple’s medical history, investigates their problem and determines the cause and cure strategy for their infertility. The medical history includes but is not limited to information concerning age, menstrual history, duration of infertility, use of contraceptives, and obstetric history. Assisted Reproduction Technology should be applied within the provisions documented for the economical and ethical intersection of reproductive medicine (Ryan, 2001). It is necessary to carry out treatment procedures on the woman. This reduces the risk associated with assisted reproduction technology (Ludwig, 2002). The mother and child should be protected.
Conclusion
Technology has become popular because of the increase in same-sex marriage and the rising cases of infertility among new couples. The administration of this technology should be cautionary to reduce incidences of post-treatment.
References
Brinsden, P.R. (2005). A textbook of In Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Reproduction: The Bourn Hall Guide to Clinical and Laboratory Practice. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis Group.
Elder, K., Ribes, J.A., & Baker, J. (2005). Infections, Infertility and Assisted Reproduction. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Erickson, T.M. (2005). Assisted Reproduction: The Complete Guide to Having a Baby with the Help of Third Party. United States of America: iUniverse.
Guelman, V., Tucker, M.J., & Patrizio, P. (2003). A color Atlas for Human Assisted Reproduction: Laboratory and Clinical Insights. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Kindregan, C.P., & McBrien, M. (2006). Assisted Reproductive Technology: a lawyer’s guide to emerging law and science. Illinois: ABA Publishing.
Ludwig, M. (2002). Pregnancy and Birth after Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Berlin: Springer – Verlag.
Ryan, M.A. (2001). Ethics and Economics of Assisted Reproduction: The Cost of Longing. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
Serhal, P., & Overton, C. (2004). Good Clinical Practice in Assisted Reproduction. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.