This document discusses in vitro fertilization (IVF), including: - What IVF is and a brief history of its development - Why it is used, typically for issues like damaged fallopian tubes or male factor infertility - Benefits like helping more people have families but also concerns like health risks of multiple pregnancies - The social impacts, including lack of regulation for surrogacy which led to legal dilemmas, and debates over stem cell research and "creating immortality"

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Rachael Law
100152430
Social Impact of
Technology
Emily Brett
August 8, 2012
Technology will Save our Minds and Bodies:
In Vitro Fertilization

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Table of Contents
• What is In Vitro Fertilization
(IVF)?
• IVF Video
• Brief History
• Why In Vitro Fertilization?
• Who is Using IVF
• Benefits of IVF
• Concerns with IVF
• Social Impact of IVF

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What is In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF)?
IVF is the procedure of
joining a man’s sperm and
a woman’s egg together in
a petri dish. The
fertilization process occurs
over a four-day period, at
which time the new embryo
is transplanted into the
woman uterus. P.130

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IVF Video
 Click HERE to watch video

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Brief History of In-Vitro Fertilization
 Early IVF experiments began as early at 1878 with
the use of rabbits
 Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, a
gynecologist, began IVF in humans in Britain in the
1970s.
 In 1977, the two, successfully implanted Lesley
Brown with a fertilized egg.
 On July 25, 1978 the first test tube baby was born,
Louise Brown

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In-Vitro Fertilization is in most
cases preformed in the
following situations:
• Damaged fallopian tubes
• Ovulation disorders
• Cervical factors
• Male factors, such as low
sperm count or poor-quality
sperm
• Surogacie
Why In Vitro
Fertilization?

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Who is Using In Vitro
Fertilization?
 1.2 million American women in 2002 considered
IVF within the last year
 6 million American women have undergone
infertility treatment in their life
 IVF treatment represents 5% of over infertility
treatments in America
 Fertility drugs, surgery, and artificial
insemination are usually attempted before IVF
 Most women using IVF treatment suffer from
blocked or damaged fallopian tubes

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Benefits of In Vitro Fertilization
 Creates more families
 Infertile couples now have a greater chance to
become pregnant
 Scientists are able to study fertilization and
early embryonic development in an
environment outside a woman’s body. Giving a
greater understanding to the reasons behind
birth defects

9. Concerns with In-Vitro
Fertilization
Health Risks:
 Health risks a multiple pregnancy can bring both woman and babies
 The IVF procedure can cause ectopic pregnancy
 Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a side effect of the procedure
 Babies born through IVF are 30% more likely to be born with birth
defects
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Social Issues:
 An unnatural pregnancy is viewed as wrong or against the will of god
 The cost associated with a multiple child birth is more that double of
a single child birth.
 The age a woman becomes pregnant and give birth can effect the
child social/sociological life long term

10. +  A major social issue involved with In-
Vitro fertilization is the lack of regulation
The Social Impact of
in regard to the process of surrogates.
In-Vitro Fertilization
 As read in our text in the 1980’s a
surrogate mother tried to keep the baby
she had carried through pregnancy.
 This created a dilemma because of the
lack of legislation.
 Ultimately the judge sided with couple,
which hired the surrogate.
 This grey area created through the
technology of in-vitro does cause a
dilemma just because of the emotions
associated with child birth.

11. Another social issue is associated with
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in-vitro is the possibility of stem cells.
The Social Impact of
 In the past decade stem cells have
In-Vitro Fertilization
created a great deal of discussion in
regard to the purpose and possibilities
attainable through this technology.
 The whole process of in-vitro creates the
possibility for stem cell research.
 The most controversial aspect of stem
cell’s is that they can reproduce almost
any aspect of the human body, which
can be frightening for most due to the
aspect of possibly creating immortality.
 This idea of using technology to create
immortality has been debated for many
years, in my opinion it goes against
human nature due to a lack of
progression.
 This is why in-vitro has to be closely
monitored for future success.

12. youTube . (n.d.). Retrieved from
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeigYi
b39Rs
 Volti, R. Socitety and technological
change (Vol. 6). New York: Worth
Publishers.
 American Experience. (n.d.). Retrieved
08 08, 2012, from
http://www.ehow.com/about_5375953_hi
story-ivf-treatment.html
References  IVF Canada. (2012, 08 08). IVF Canada.
Retrieved from
http://www.ivfcanada.com/
 History of IVF. (n.d.). Retrieved 08 08,
2012, from eHow:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5375953_hi
story-ivf-treatment.html