What are the adverse effects of IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) baby is a kind of baby that is bred by assisted reproductive technology after IVF. Although the development of IVF technology has achieved great success in helping many infertile couples realize their dreams, it also has some adverse effects. This article will elaborate on the adverse effects of IVF from four aspects: social ethics, mental health, physical health and economic burden.
Social ethics
IVF technology may cause a series of social ethical problems. First of all, this technology has triggered a dispute about the reproductive rights and bioethics. Some people believe that the embryos produced in the process of IVF are alive, so the selection and treatment of them may cause ethical disputes. Secondly, IVF technology may exacerbate the gap between rich and poor in society. Because the IVF process is more expensive, only families with better economic conditions can afford this technology, which may lead to the rich being more likely to have access to fertility opportunities, while the vulnerable groups are more excluded.
In addition, IVF technology also involves the complexity of parent-child relationship. Since there is no necessary connection with the physiological kinship between the gene provider and the fetus, it may bring confusion to families and infants in terms of identity and emotional relationship.
mental health
IVF may have some negative effects on the mental health of both spouses. First of all, infertility itself has brought psychological pressure and pain to both spouses. The operation of IVF technology and periodic treatment may further aggravate this pressure. Secondly, the uncertainty of the success rate of IVF and the prolongation of the treatment cycle may lead to the ups and downs of both spouses' emotions, thus increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.
In addition, the success of IVF also has an important impact on the self-esteem and self-worth of both spouses. The failure of IVF technology may make one or both parties feel remorse, loss and depression, which may have a long-term negative impact on individual mental health.
good health
IVF technology may pose potential risks to women's health. First, IVF involves the use of hormones to improve egg production and collection. These hormones may cause side effects such as irregular menstruation, emotional fluctuations and breast pain in women. Secondly, the process of ovum retrieval may lead to complications, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, edema and other symptoms, and may lead to ovarian torsion and bleeding in severe cases.
In addition, the success rate of IVF technology is not 100%, and multiple cycles of attempts are needed. This means that women need to go through multiple operations and treatment processes, which may cause additional burden on their health.
financial burden
The high cost of IVF technology is another adverse effect. IVF technology requires multiple steps and attempts, and the cost of each cycle is relatively high, including drug costs, surgery costs and treatment costs. For families with poor economic conditions, this economic burden may be difficult to bear, limiting their opportunities to use this technology.
To sum up, although IVF technology has helped infertile couples realize their reproductive dreams, it also has some adverse effects. From four aspects of social ethics, mental health, physical health and economic burden, we can see the challenges and risks brought by IVF technology. Therefore, while promoting the development of IVF technology, we should also pay attention to and solve these problems to ensure the sustainable and rational application of technology.
