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The Debate Over Unused Embryos
Filed under: Opinions
It's a question most of us will never have to ask. In fact, it's a question that sounds rather sci-fi more than real life, and yet it is one a growing number of parents must ask themselves. What to do with unused embryos? More and more couples are turning to in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF, in order to conceive children. A number of eggs are implanted with sperm in the hopes that one or more will take and children will be produced. The embryos not used for the current procedure are frozen in case they are needed for subsequent attempts, or, to conceive more children. Many couples don't use those remaining embryos and don't know what to do with them.
They could dispose of them, donate them to research or other couples trying to conceive, or keep them frozen for an annual fee. Unused embryos can be stored for up to ten years. Ethics, clearly, play a huge role in the decision. Some couples don't want others raising what would ostensibly be their children, or are afraid their children will encounter a sibling without knowing it which could lead to problems down the road (especially if they decided to date). There's also the reality that it's becoming harder and harder for parents to donate embryos to other couples.
Others simply can't bear to part with what they see as their unborn children. Possible options are to create fewer embryos in the first place and to periodically council would-be parents about the possibility of having to deal with unused embryos. I know someone who has three unused embryos frozen right now. She would like more kids but her husband isn't so sure. I can't imagine what it must be like to have to make the kinds of decisions they will about what to do with those three potential babies, but I wish them all the best and can only offer them support with whatever they decide.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-20-2008 @ 3:05PM
Nikki said...These are not unborn children, they're a blob of cells. It takes a sperm and an egg to make an unborn child - and even with that takes time. Let other people who are as privileged to have their own children use them. Stop hoarding the gifts that "God" (if you believe in God) gave you.
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12-20-2008 @ 4:41PM
Linda said...THOSE FROZEN EMBRYOS ARE NOT JUST A BLOB OF CELLS BUT A LIFE THAT HAS JUST STARTED AND NEEDS TO DEVELOP. WHEN EGG AND SPERM COMBINE TO MAKE AN EMBRYO LIFE HAS BEGUN. THIS EMBRYO WILL HAVE A BEATING HEART THAT CAN BE SEEN ON ULTRASOUND AT 6WKS GESTATION LONG BEFORE IT EVER LOOKS LIKE A BABY. ONCE THAT HEART STARTS TO BEAT STOPPING THAT HEART IS MURDER. ABORTION NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK IS MURDER. SINCE MOST ABORTIONS ARE DONE AT 10 TO 12 WEEKS YOU ALREADY HAVE A HEART BEATING AND A TINY BODY JUST NEEDING TO GROW. YOU MENTIONED GOD IN YOUR COMMENT THE PROBLEM IN OUR WORLD TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN HIM AND TRY TO LIVE LIFE THEIR OWN WAY AND MAKE UP RULES OF RIGHT AND WRONG AS THEY GO ALONG.
12-20-2008 @ 5:12PM
Nikki said...Actually, I do believe in God, but I love the fact that others don't have to believe what I believe. I love diversity, so I think its a good thing that other people can believe in whatever they want. All roads lead to Rome. And not everyone believes what you believe about abortion, so please try to have some tolerance. People who constantly claim that they have the answers and everyone is going to burn in hell tend to to be pretty egotistical, and those claims scare people away from your religion. Why not try to be inclusive, not exclusive - maybe then people will actually be interested in what you have to say.
12-21-2008 @ 12:30AM
Uly said...Linda (and what's with the shouting? CAPSLOCK is NOT your friend, honey), technically both the egg and the sperm are alive. When they join, you've killed both of them to create an embryo.
As far as murder - lol. I'm not a vegetarian, I eat critters with hearts *all the time*, and I'd never call it *murder*. How silly! Brains and thoughts, that's where it's at.
12-20-2008 @ 4:12PM
Sandyone said...Science lesson:
An embryo is the result of the meeting of an egg and a sperm. It has 46 chromosomes (unless something is wrong) and needs only time and nutrition to turn into that mysterious human baby thing.
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12-20-2008 @ 6:29PM
ame s said...I would have a very hard time not choosing to have them implanted in me, money or wishes of my spouse be darned.
My second choice would have to be to give them to another woman. I could never "discard" them or offer them up for research. I have 2 daughters. I had them before 3-D ultra-sounds were widely available. In my first daugher's first ultra-sound at 7 weeks, she was a dark blob shaped like a peanut still in the shell. From the second my babies changed from one cell into two into four, they were my daughters.
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