Access to Reproductive Technology
Background
Reproductive technology, usually known as Assisted Reproductive Technology, is used to assist in treating infertility which involves the eggs from women and sperm from men (MedlinePlus, n.d.). The procedures include removing eggs from the ovaries of women and joining them with the sperm in the lab, and then finally placing them back into the woman's body, or they may also be donated (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). There are several types of reproductive technology including insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm injection, gamete intrafallopian tube transfer, and embryo transfer (Rebar, 2020). That being said, there are benefits within reproductive technology; however, there are also concerns regarding the regulations and process.
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Figure 1: In vitro fertilization
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Figure 2: Sperm injection
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Figure 3: Insemination
Positive Aspects
- Provides an opportunity for those who are not able to conceive (Campbell, n.d.)
- Allows a chance for older patients to have a baby (Campbell, n.d.)
- Gives single women and same-sex couples the ability to have a baby (Campbell, n.d.)
- The Assisted Human Reproduction Act in Canada implements a safe and healthy environment for third-party donors as well as offers flexibility for recipients who wish to use sperm from a donor they are familiar with (Health Canada, 2019)
- The Assisted Human Reproduction Act in Canada also states that individuals cannot be denied access to IVF based on sexual orientation or marital status (Health Canada, 2019)
Ethical, Social, Legal Concerns and Other Negative Aspects
In regards to reproductive technology, many are concerned about how the stored embryos are disposed of in case of situations where the individual dies or the couple gets divorced and they become unused (Rebar, 2020). For example, many couples fertilize as many eggs as they can and freeze the remaining ones for later use, but as time passes, they may stop paying fees and stop being in contact with the clinic, which consequently leaves clinics hesitant in disposing of the embryos without consent from the individuals (Our Bodies Ourselves Infertility Contributors, 2011). Other concerns also include the use of IVF on postmenopausal women (Rebar, 2020). Furthermore, ethical concerns also include how the third party involved in the process are not expected to contribute to raising the children (Asch & Marmor, 2015). Moreover, use of reproductive technology is also expensive; in fact, in Canada, an IVF cycle can cost from $10,000–$20,000, which raises a concern as it prohibits low-income families from having access to the service (Scala, 2019). Unfortunately, IVF is not considered a medical necessity in all provinces of Canada; only Ontario deems IVF as a medical necessity (Scala, 2019). As a result, access to the service is mostly restricted to wealthier couples, and although the Assisted Human Reproduction Act in Canada states that no one can be denied access to the service based on sexual orientation, there are still barriers that exist for disadvantaged groups, including those of the LGBTQ community (Scala, 2019). Another concern is the high rates of delivering preterm babies, low birthweight delivery, and multiple deliveries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019)
Other concerns include
- How the religious beliefs of an individual correspond with the types of reproductive procedures (Davis, 2021)
- Age limits in the use of reproductive technology (Davis, 2021)
- If children born through the procedure should be aware of their conception (Davis, 2021)
- Legal involvement if a surrogate mother is involved (Rebar, 2020)
Nonetheless, it is important that concerns are addressed regarding reproductive technology as this encourages a healthy, safe, and fair environment for individuals involved.
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Figure 4: Embryo being stored in a fertility clinic
References
Asch, A., & Marmor, R. (2015, September 17). Assisted Reproduction. Retrieved from https://www.thehastingscenter.org/briefingbook/assisted-reproduction/
Campbell, S. (n.d.). The advantages and disadvantages of IVF. Retrieved from https://www.createfertility.co.uk/blog/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-ivf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, October 08). Assisted Reproductive Technology. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/art/whatis.html
Davis, K. (2021, October 18). What to know about assisted reproductive technology. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/assisted-reproductive-technology
Health Canada. (2019, June 26). Health Canada finalizes regulations to better protect Canadians who use reproductive technologies to build ... Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2019/06/health-canada-finalizes-regulations-to-better-protect-canadians-who-use-reproductive-technologies-to-build-their-families.html
MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Assisted Reproductive Technology. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/assistedreproductivetechnology.html Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2019/06/health-canada-finalizes-regulations-to-better-protect-canadians-who-use-reproductive-technologies-to-build-their-families.html
Our Bodies Ourselves Infertility Contributors. (2011, October 15). The Ethics of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book-excerpts/health-article/the-ethics-of-art/
Rebar, R. W. (2020, September). Assisted Reproductive Techniques. Retrieved from https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/women-s-health-issues/infertility/assisted-reproductive-techniques
Scala, F. (2019, April 30). Should we publicly fund IVF in Canada? Retrieved from https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2019/publicly-fund-ivf-canada/
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