Fertility Treatments

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Fertility Treatments I. Introduction It is assumed by most that we will all be able to grow up, fall in love, get married, and then have children of our own. This is not the lifestyle that all people choose, but it is still the view accepted by the majority of society. What happens when the unthinkable occurs and a happily married couple is unable to get pregnant? This is a reality for 7.1%, or 2.8 million, of the married couples in the United States (Lenox, 1999). Today, there are many people all over the world that decide to use fertility treatments to help them conceive a child, and this often leads to the birth of twins, triplets, or even higher order multiples. There are many risk factors that are involved in this type of pregnancy, and these issues have created a cloud of debate around this subject. The use of fertility treatments in recent years has been accompanied by an increase in the number of multiple births seen annually. The twin birth rate has increased by 59% since 1980, and the triplet and higher order multiples birth rate is up 423% (Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughter’s, 2004). There are two main forms of assisted reproductive therapy (ART) that are used currently. These are ovulation induction using fertility drugs alone and In vitro fertilization (IVF). II. Fertility Treatment Options Ovulation induction through the use of different forms of fertility drugs is the most common type of assisted reproductive therapy. The drug known as clomiphene, delivered in the form of an oral tablet, is commonly used for ovulation induction. It is taken over a restricted period of time during the menstrual cycle (Jacobs, 2004). This can vary between patients and physicians. The drug functions by all... ... middle of paper ... ...Academic Search Premier [Online Database AN: 3358771]. Jacobs, Barry, M.D.. Multiple Births. Retrieved October 13, 2004, from http://www.texasfertility.com/nextstepmultiple.htm Lenox, Naomi. (1999). When Fertility Therapy Runs Amok: Debating the ethics and dangers of multiple births. Midwest Today. Retrieved November 1, 2004, from the World Wide Web: http://www.midtod.com/fertility.phtml Malpani, Dr. A&A. (2004). How Much Does Treatment Cost?. Retrieved November 1, 2004, from the World Wide Web: http://infertility.adoption.com/chapter47.php Morrow, Lance. (1999). Is This Right? Who has the right to say?. Time. Vol. 153, Issue1, p.41. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier [Online Database AN: 1402892]. Shady Grove Fertility Centers. Blastocyst Transfer. Retrieved October 14, 2004, from http://www.fertilitynetwork.com/articles/articles-blastocyst.htm

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