IVF Negative Effects On Society

Nowadays, infertility is becoming a very common problem so people seek medical help or require special technology in order to become fertile. According to statistical data, more and more couples around the world suffer fertility disorders or are infertile. In today‘s world every sixth couple, i.e. 10-15%, faces some sort of fertility problems while another 10-25% of women experience secondary infertility, i.e. they cannot conceive following a previous pregnancy. (PubMed.com) However, there are many types of reproductive technologies provided with a wide variety of reproductive possibilities, one of them being In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), which has massive social impacts. IVF is a procedure in which eggs from a woman’s ovary are removed.

About 10 percent of women over the age of forty conceive a child after an IVF cycle, though the procedure is more successful in younger women. IVF is considered to have a significant impact on society, mainly due to its risks and ­­­social-evils. This method has many social impacts; both positive and negative. It has had many social impacts due to controversy on the topic and different reactions to the method. However, despite the controversy, IVF has had a positive impact on the society and has changed the judgement and perception of parenthood. Some parents are incapable of having children because of infertility or other medical conditions a woman or man may have, but with the help of IVF, these unlikely parents and same-sex couples have the opportunity to make a family. It also helps single women who want to conceive a child without having a partner. It allows these people to become parents without having to have a man in their life. Motherhood has become possible for women considered "too old" for children. For example, women aged 30 have a 55% chance of a live birth after getting pregnant with the help of IVF and for women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, IVF provides the best opportunity of having a child using their own eggs. Women with menopause or premature ovarian failure may also have IVF treatment using donor eggs, as it usually has high success rates. This treatment has given new opportunities

This procedure also increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, premature birth and other complications. Hence, it can possibly lead to consequential emotional and financial expenses for the family and more extensive society. In IVF treatments, there is often more than one embryo placed back into the uterus, which may lead to a higher likelihood of multiple pregnancy; around 20-30% of IVF pregnancies are multiple pregnancies. An IVF cycle may also be unsuccessful. The success of the method is not promised, and patients often have to experience more than one cycle of treatment before they are successful. At the present time, just over 25% of all IVF cycles result in a live birth, but it is important to be realistic but positive about the chances of