It may sound perfect since more couples are deciding to delay pregnancy and for women with fertility or cancer treatments. But data is rather incomplete: it suggests that reproduction might not be successful as former studies showed. It is a fragile procedure that can affect the cells and provoke long-term effects such as increasing the risk of rare disorders as the Angelman Syndrome (a neurological condition).
In 2008, when the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) decided to label this technique as "experimental", only women going through fertility-damaging treatment for cancer or other type of treatments had the option to freeze their eggs to use them in the future and finally have a baby. However, it was used for other purposes too--which society didn't approve that much--such as for delaying having a baby (even if they didn't have fertility issues). But it wasn't until October 22, 2012, that mainstream clinics were allowed to offer this service (for a fee), encouraging more people to use this service. But not all clinics can offer these services since the ASRM policy is very strict.
It may sound amazing that more than 900 children were born by using this procedure, but reproductive biologists keep on discussing the benefits and success of this technique in younger women, mainly because cells productivity may decrease with age.
Who should use this technique?
In the case of women that don't want to have babies at the moment, is delaying reproduction by egg freezing just a fancy (and expensive) technique that crosses the line of natural reproduction?
Would you like to hear the experts' opinion? Also, a woman explains why she decided to freeze her eggs.
it's clearly less natural than having a normal pregnancy, but what happens if you are still young and you have things to do before raising a child? having a baby involves spending a lot of time and money, so i think that it is a good idea for young women who wants to postpone their maternity. i don't think is something that humanity can't live without but if you have the resources and want to do it, do it.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this procedure will improve people´s lives. But, I have to admit that if there are certain women choosing this new medical alternative, it means it worked for them.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, there are several options women have in order to postpone having a baby at a particular age, for example. We have the opportunity to plan whether we want to have a child now or 5 years later. Of course, for us the scene gets more complicated when we are getting old, but before being in our forties, we can use the natural method or using pills for preventing pregnancy. When the time arrives and we feel prepared for welcoming a new member of the family we can just decide stopping using those methods. My mom did that, she planned my date of birth and my sister´s, and there was no problem at all.
I do not see the real benefit of using this procedure, for me it is not a bad alternative but I do not think I would choose it in the future.