Medical Problems Faced by IVF
IVF refers to the babies obtained through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although IVF technology provides hope for couples who cannot conceive naturally, there are still some medical problems in this process. This article will elaborate on the medical problems that IVF may face from four aspects.
1. Physiological problems
The birth rate of IVF babies is lower than that of naturally conceived babies, so some physiological problems may affect their health. First, preterm birth is one of the common problems faced by IVF. Some babies may be born early because they cannot obtain the complete environment in the mother's body in the process of in vitro culture. Premature infants are faced with problems of immature respiratory and digestive systems and need care and professional medical care.
In addition, low birth weight is also a problem that IVF may face. In vitro babies may develop slowly in the mother after embryo transfer, resulting in lower birth weight. Low birth weight will increase the risk of various health problems for infants, such as dyspnea, weak immune system, etc.
In addition, some studies have shown that there may be an increased risk of gene mutation during the development of IVF. This means that they may be more likely to suffer from some genetic diseases, including Down syndrome, congenital heart disease, etc.
2. Psychological problems
IVF babies may also face some psychological problems like naturally conceived babies. First of all, IVF babies may have questions and puzzles about their own life experiences during their growth. They may be curious about why they are different from other children's birth patterns, which may lead to problems in self-identity and family relations.
Research also shows that in IVF families, parents have high expectations of their children, which may bring additional pressure to children. Parents of IVF babies usually experience a long period of infertility and treatment, and their expectations for children may exceed those of ordinary couples.
In addition, IVF may also face problems with the relationship between biological parents and non biological parents. If a fertilized egg or surrogate is used, the child may not know who his or her biological parents are, which may confuse their identity.
3. Social issues
IVF not only faces physiological and psychological problems, but also may face some social problems. First, IVF births are often associated with high costs. IVF technology usually requires multiple attempts, and each attempt requires expensive costs. This makes IVF more selected by high-income families, resulting in social injustice.
At the same time, the society's attitude towards IVF may also lead to some prejudice and discrimination. Some people hold negative views on IVF technology, believing that it violates the laws of nature and may trigger discussion on the moral and ethical levels. IVF families may face criticism and misunderstanding from the outside world, which will have a certain impact on the growth of infants and the stability of the family.
4. Legal issues
The emergence of IVF technology has also triggered a series of legal issues. First, the legal status of IVF may vary from country to country and region to region. Some countries may dispute the identification of IVF, especially in the case of using fertilized eggs or surrogate technology.
In addition, the gene source and parent-child relationship of IVF also need clear legal provisions. For example, if a fertilized egg donation or surrogacy is used, who should be considered as the legal biological parents? This is a question that needs legal clarification.
Summary
The emergence of IVF technology has brought hope for couples who cannot conceive naturally, but it is also accompanied by some medical problems. IVF babies may face physiological problems, such as premature delivery, low birth weight and genetic diseases. They may also face psychological problems, such as confusion of life experience and family relationship pressure. The society's attitude towards IVF and the high cost have also become the problems. In addition, the emergence of IVF technology has also triggered a series of legal issues that need to be clearly defined at the legal level. Therefore, although IVF technology has brought hope, it is still necessary to comprehensively consider and solve relevant problems to ensure the health and rights of infants and families.
