Children Born After Assisted Reproductive Technology example essay topic

351 words
"Follow-up of Children Born After Assisted Reproductive Technology". Assisted reproductive technology refers to the procedures in which the oocyte is handled or manipulated in the vitro before fertilization either as an oocyte or an embryo. The most common techniques used in assisted reproductive technologies are in vitro (IV) and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Recent studies show that there is a greater risk of birth defects and malformations in children born as a result of assisted reproductive technologies as opposed to those conceived spontaneously.

Frequently, as a result of ART, mulitple pregnancies are highly common. Since multiple preganices cause the mother to deliver the babies prematurely, babies resulting from ART, have the same risks as any other baby born prematurely. Among the common birth defects as a result of assisted reproductive technologies are low birth rate and undeveloped organs. This also raises the cost of delivery of the babies. Since most are under normal birthweight and are not completely developed internally, they are often kept at the hospital until they have reached a more normal birthweight.

Also, they are kept in incubators. Not all babies resulting from ART survive after birth because of the premature risk factors. Even though there is a greater risk of birth defects and abnormalities in children born as a result of assisted reproductive technologies, there are still studies being performed as to be able to identify these defects earlier in the pregnancy. Ludwig, Michael, Klaus Diedrich. "Follow-up of children born after Assisted Reproductive Technologies".

Reproductive Biomedicine Online Nov / Dec 2002 16 Sept. 2003. Vol. 5 Issue 3, p 317, 6 p. web Ludwig, Michael, Klaus Diedrich. 2003. Vol. 5 Issue 3, p 317, 6 p. web Wright, Victoria C. et al. "Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance-United States, 2000".

Center for Disease Control Aug 29, 2003.5 Nov 2003. Vol. 52, SS-9, 16 p. web McKenzie, John. "Multiplying Risk: Carrying multiple fetuses to birth can endanger all". AbcNews. 13, July, 2001.5 Nov. 2003. web.