20 Notes/Quotes

Research Paper Notes

1. First “test-tube” baby succeeded in 1978 by Dr. Edwards (embryologist) and Dr. Steptoe (gynecologist)
- http://www.ivf.com/ivffaq.html

2. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) removes eggs from woman’s ovary and fertilizes them with sperm in a laboratory and returns fertilized eggs to uterus
- IVF, Altha Roberts Edgren…GALE

3. IVF costs between $5000-10000 and may not be covered by health insurance
- IVF, Altha Roberts Edgren…GALE

4. Clinics must report to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention # of embryos transferred in each IVF cycle and # of babies born
- TIME magazine (octuplets fallout…)

5. “Would we write laws limiting the size of someone’s family to 6? Would we write laws mandating selective reduction”- aborting embryos if high number successfully implant
- TIME magazine (octuplets fallout…)

6. 1 million infants have been successfully conceived through IVF
- GALE (study examines live birth rates)

7. Largest study of IVF patients (BIDMC) followed 6000 women, chances of live births- 65- 86% in younger women and 23%-42% in women 40 and older
- GALE (study examines live birth rates)

8. “A singleton birth should be considered a success, triplets a failure”
- TIME magazine (octuplets fallout…)

9. Among 6,164 patients who underwent 14,248 IVF cycles 27% were twins 2% were triplets
- GALE (study examines live birth rates)

10. GIFT- Gamate Interfallopian Transfer, fertilization inside fallopian tube (alternative to IVF)
-http://sharedjourney.com/ivf.html

11. ZIFT- Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer, fertilized eggs placed in fallopian tubes not in uterus (alternative to IVF)
-http://sharedjourney.com/ivf.html

12. TET- Tubal Embryo Transfer, embryos transferred to women at later stage of development (alternative to IVF)
-http://sharedjourney.com/ivf.html

13. Step 1: fertility medications, referred to as ovulation induction
-http://www.americanpregnancy.org

14. Step 2: eggs retrieved (may require minor surgery, follicular aspiration)
-http://www.americanpregnancy.org

15. Step 3: sperm prepared for egg, Step 4: insemination- egg and sperm placed in incubators for fertilization
-http://www.americanpregnancy.org

16. Step 5: embryos transferred into women’s uterus
-http://www.americanpregnancy.org

17. Most complications occur in IVF multiples, 50% twins and 90% triplets are born premature
- Guideline for number of embryos…

18. Women less than 35 no more than 2 embryos, women between 35-37 no more than 3 embryos, women 38-39 no more than 3 embryos, women older than 40 no more than 4 embryos
- Guideline for number of embryos…

19. “Courts have made clear that decisions about what to do with embryos are in the hands of the patients not physicians”
-TIME magazine (octuplets fallout…)

20. Twins most common multiple after IVF, thus the bulk of excess morbidity/mortality occur in twin gestations
- Guideline for number of embryos…