Reproductive technology

From ArticleWorld

The term, reproductive technology, identifies any practice, medical or veterinary technique or technology that is used in some aspect of animal or human reproduction. Many of these technologies are used in both medical and veterinary practices. New techniques and procedures for facilitating reproduction are being developed all the time.

Scope

Currently available reproductive technologies involve the facilitating the fertility of men, women and couples. Female technologies include the use of hormones to stimulate the development of multiple egg cells as well as the practice of artificial insemination. Embryos, too, can be placed into the uterus using the technique of embryo transfer. Unused embryos can be cryopreserved for later use. Although less, successful than freezing embryos, oocytes (egg cells) can also be frozen.

Men can also undergo treatment with hormones to enhance fertility. Sperm can be collected and cryopreserved. Specific sperm, free of abnormalities or chosen for gender, can be selected and then injected into the egg using a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

The entire process of in-vitro fertilization employs many techniques already mentioned. Specialized procedures involved in in-vitro fertilization include the testing of embryos for viability, gender and for genetic conditions before implantation into the uterus. In fact, an embryo at the eight-cell stage can have one or more of the cells safely removed and genetically evaluated, a process called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or PGD.

Ethical issues

There have been medical, ethical and religious issues generated upon the development of practically every reproductive technology. People were alarmed when in-vitro fertilization developed, a process that is commonly used today. Conservative Christians have opposed the practice of destroying unused embryos, leading to what is now called embryo adoption.

Some groups consisting of genetically-disabled groups oppose the idea that embryos showing a predilection toward a genetic disorder are routinely disposed of. Issues have even been raised over whether a couple has the right to choose the gender of their offspring. All of these issues serve to highlight the fact that ethics, human rights and religion will likely always play a role in any discussion involving both existing and future forms of reproductive technology.

Not every aspect of reproductive technology has become a practical reality, particularly for humans. Some day, devices such as artificial wombs and techniques involving genetic engineering will be an everyday part of helping a couple achieve a healthy pregnancy and are being studied today. Cloning has been found to be successful in animal models, however, no one, to date, has been willing to admit to the creation of a cloned infant. There is wide speculation, though, that the cloning of a human being has already happened or will happen in the very near future.