The Memorial Day weekend brings to mind time off from work and fun in the sun. It's also a time to remember those who sacrificed so we could enjoy that freedom. If infertility's a part of your life, it might be tough to conjure up this feeling of freedom -- but if you look closer, you'll see it.
Did you know that in some countries, egg and sperm donors are required to reveal their identity throughout the process? Since anonymity is what many prefer, the result of such laws is far fewer donors and fertility patients who must travel internationally just to get pregnant.
Even tighter restrictions exist in other nations where donor eggs are simply not allowed to be used for fertility treatment. Just imagine -- the only options available for these women is adoption, unless they travel to access IVF.
Just as incredible: freezing excess embryos is of questionable legality in some places. Imagine being lucky enough to create many embryos in an IVF cycle, but the law requires you transfer them all, increasing your already upped chances for multiples to dangerous proportions.
The United States continues to demonstrate leadership in the championing of individual rights, and this includes the health care arena. Fertility treatment is a highly personal choice and, so far, it's still very much up to the patient and her physician to decide which treatments to use and when. You can find out about the services we're free to offer at Houston Fertility Center's website, http://CallDrK.com.
Have a great weekend, knowing you're free to choose fertility treatment and make other decisions that are right for your life.
~Sonja Kristiansen, M.D.
Showing posts with label frozen embryos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frozen embryos. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Economy Makes Saving Embryos Tougher Decision
A recent study found that there is indeed an expected correlation between the United States economic downturn and people's choices regarding their frozen embryos.
In other words, presumably the cost of maintaining frozen embryos has pushed patients to think harder about whether or not to keep them on ice in perpetuity.
Last December, I referred to The Embryo Dilemma which was front-and-center in the media at the time. Single embryo transfer is absolutely the answer for some patients, whereas for others, it simply won't provide their desired outcome.
ART research has focused on the fine-tuning of techniques that will allow fewer IVF-created embryos to be transferred and still create a healthy pregnancy. Still, many patients will end up with extras.
The options -- aside from cryopreservation storage or discarding -- for unused embryos at Houston Fertility Center:
*If couples let us know before their eggs and sperm are combined for fertilization via IVF, we can perform the FDA-required testing for embryo 'adoption' to be an option.
*We will assist couples in making their embryos available for research at approved institutions.
It's imperative that patients using IVF to create embryos discuss -- in advance -- all of the options with their partners and any others they typically consult for life's big decisions.
In other words, presumably the cost of maintaining frozen embryos has pushed patients to think harder about whether or not to keep them on ice in perpetuity.
Last December, I referred to The Embryo Dilemma which was front-and-center in the media at the time. Single embryo transfer is absolutely the answer for some patients, whereas for others, it simply won't provide their desired outcome.
ART research has focused on the fine-tuning of techniques that will allow fewer IVF-created embryos to be transferred and still create a healthy pregnancy. Still, many patients will end up with extras.
The options -- aside from cryopreservation storage or discarding -- for unused embryos at Houston Fertility Center:
*If couples let us know before their eggs and sperm are combined for fertilization via IVF, we can perform the FDA-required testing for embryo 'adoption' to be an option.
*We will assist couples in making their embryos available for research at approved institutions.
It's imperative that patients using IVF to create embryos discuss -- in advance -- all of the options with their partners and any others they typically consult for life's big decisions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)