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Shruthika Senthilkumar

Mrs. Mcclendon

Prosper Career Independent Study

10 November 2023

In Vitro Fertilization

This article talks about medical advances such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and the

impact of these advances on ordinary people. It also dives into how many people suffer from

infertility. In vitro fertilization, a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg are combined in a laboratory

dish outside the body. The fertilized zygote is then put in either the mother's uterus or if her

uterus is not able to carry the baby, then surrogacy may be tried. IVF is a form of assisted

reproductive technology (ART) which aids in reproduction when natural means are not possible.

This article takes the reader through the five basic steps of IVF, the risks, and the prognosis. It

also talks about global infertility and how it can be comparable based on one's status.

This article has shone a new light on my research in PCIS. My interest in Pediatrics does

not stop with children but combines with women's health, which goes into global health. I was

aware of the natural ways that women can conceive and obstacles that can prevent it, but I was

not aware of how helpful IVF can be. The first step of IVF is superovulation or stimulation of the

ovary with medicines. Then, a minor surgery, called follicular aspiration, is done to remove the

eggs from the woman's body. If the eggs are healthy, the man's sperm is placed together, called

insemination. This laboratory dish is stored at an optimal temperature, which aids in fertilizing.

The last step is to implant the fertilized embryos into the woman's womb. Knowing that the

technology we have today can help a woman conceive even without having the perfect means to
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do so broadens my perspective. It allows me to expand my ideas for the upcoming project in

PCIS.

Another part of the article that stood out to me was the risks and cost of the treatment

itself. Many couples can not afford this treatment because it ranges from $12,000- $17,000.

Women put themselves through so much with the hope that they can eventually give birth. Many

women who have infertility also suffer from depression and stress due to the societal pressure

and expectations on women. Women who then decide to take fertility medication present with

various side effects like bloating, mood swings, and severe abdominal pain. If they eventually

decide to go with IVF, then repeated IVF injections can cause bruising. Egg retrieval can cause

bleeding, infections, and damage to internal organs surrounding the ovaries. After all this pain

and struggle, it is still not 100% guaranteed that the child will be born without any congenital

disabilities. I did not know that women were put through this much to conform to societal

standards. This pushes my ideas towards creating awareness of the pressure placed on women.

Before reading this article, I did not know that around 17.5% of the adult population, or

roughly 1 in 6 worldwide, experience infertility. I also did not realize that the rates are

comparable for high, middle, and low-income countries. Infertility was 17.8% in high-income

countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries. This influences my perspective for

my project in PCIS because I would want to focus more on the differences in global medicine

and proper awareness for women regarding giving birth. After all, not only does it affect the

women giving birth, but also the child being born. Many children who are born through IVF and

ART are presenting with congenital disabilities that show up either immediately or even

long-term. 5-6% of children are presenting with defects due to the mother and father not being

healthy. Giving people the option of IVF is a fantastic initiative. Still, I want to be able to
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provide awareness to every woman to help them give birth to a healthy baby while also keeping

themselves healthy.
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Works Cited

“1 in 6 People Globally Affected by Infertility: Who.” World Health Organization, World Health

Organization,

www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-by-infertility.

Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

“In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National

Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007279.htm. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.