Advances and Complexities: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Freezing

Publication Date: February 2006

Publisher: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Author(s): Susannah Baruch; Brennan D. Peterson

Research Area: Health

Keywords: In vitro fertilization; Embryo freezing

Type: Other

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Louise Brown was born in 1978, becoming the world's first baby born by in vitro fertilization (IVF). For the world of medicine, her birth in Great Britain was a revolutionary breakthrough. For couples experiencing infertility, the success of in vitro fertilization symbolized a new hope in their efforts to conceive a child.

The road to IVF for most couples is quite predictable. First, the woman's obstetrician (who is most likely the person making the diagnosis) determines the cause of the infertility (e.g., tubal irregularities for females, low sperm count/motility in males, a combination of female and male factors). Depending on the nature of the infertility, the doctor recommends first line interventions such as medications or corrective surgery, which represent 85 to 90 percent of infertility services.

In Family Therapy Magazine, Jan-Feb. 2006, p.17-23.