Can IVF technology be selected by men and women?
IVF technology is an assisted reproductive technology, which helps couples who cannot conceive naturally due to various reasons to achieve their reproductive aspirations through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. It can select the sex of the fetus to a certain extent, but whether it can fully realize the male and female self selection has aroused extensive discussion. Next, we will elaborate on this from the perspectives of science, law, ethics and medical treatment.
Scientific perspective
From a scientific point of view, IVF technology can conduct sex selection by screening embryos. This is achieved by activating or disabling the sex chromosomes carried by the embryo. After in vitro fertilization, scientists can determine the sex of the embryo by means of genetic testing, such as gene sequence analysis or embryo cell biopsy. However, gender selection is not a completely accurate technology in science. The results may be interfered by many factors, such as the accuracy of experimental methods and the uncertainty of embryonic development. Therefore, although IVF technology can make gender selection to a certain extent, it cannot fully meet the expectations of men and women who choose themselves.
In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also put forward some restrictions on gender selection. According to WHO guidelines, gender selection should only be applied to specific medical and non-medical needs, and should be subject to legal supervision.
Legal perspective
Many countries and regions have regulated the IVF technology legally and ethically. Some of these countries allow gender selection, but only in specific circumstances, such as the need for genetic disease carriers or gender balance. Other countries strictly restrict or completely prohibit gender selection.
Take the United Kingdom as an example. The Human Fertilization and Embryology Agency (HFEA) of the United Kingdom has formulated strict regulations, stipulating that IVF technology is only allowed to be used when there is a high risk of genetic diseases or gender balance. In other cases, sex selection is considered immoral or illegal.
Therefore, from the legal point of view, IVF technology can not really achieve men and women's choice, because its use is strictly restricted and supervised.
Ethical perspective
The sex selection involved in IVF technology has caused some ethical problems. Critics believe that gender selection may lead to gender inequality and imbalance in the proportion of gender expected by children, which will have a negative impact on social structure and gender equality.
In addition, ethics also concerns whether IVF technology should be used for non-medical purposes, and the sex of the fetus should be selected purely out of personal preference. Some people believe that the decision of sex selection should be made by the natural reproduction process rather than by human intervention. Therefore, the gender selection of IVF technology has been questioned by morality and ethics.
Medical perspective
From a medical perspective, gender selection may increase the risk and cost of IVF technology. Additional resources and technical support are required for equipment operation, personnel training and IVET process. In addition, gender selection may also lead to multiple attempts to transfer embryos, thus increasing patients' physical and psychological pressure.
Therefore, from the medical perspective, the gender selection of IVF technology requires more resources and technical input, and also increases the risk and burden of patients.
Summary
To sum up, from the scientific, legal, ethical and medical perspectives, IVF technology can not fully achieve men and women's choice. Although scientific gender selection can be carried out to a certain extent, the results are not completely accurate. However, legal and ethical provisions limit the scope and conditions of gender selection. In addition, the gender selection of IVF technology will also increase the risk and cost of medical treatment. Therefore, IVF technology should be regarded as an assisted reproductive technology, rather than a means of achieving men's and women's choice.
