Infertility: Ethical and Legal Concerns

Overview

Reproductive research and treatment raise many ethical and legal concerns. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has issued a number of statements about these issues. Go to its website at www.asrm.org/EthicsReports to review these statements.

Multiple pregnancy

Transferring several fertilized eggs during assisted fertilization techniques (as for in vitro fertilization) increases the chances that you will conceive two or more fetuses at the same time. Multiple pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and health problems for you and your babies. And it raises the risk of one or more of the babies having a disability. Talk to your doctor about how you can increase your chances of conception and decrease the chances of having a multiple pregnancy.

Embryos

If you are planning to use assisted reproductive technology, your clinic may offer to freeze extra fertilized eggs for future conception attempts. Be sure to give written instructions for what to do with any eggs that you don't use. Think about what you want done with them in the case of death or divorce. Also think about what you want done with the eggs if the clinic isn't able to contact you in the future.

Donor eggs or sperm, or surrogate

You may plan to use eggs or sperm from someone you know. Or maybe you're planning to have someone else (a surrogate) carry your fetus until birth. If so, talk to your clinic or an attorney experienced in this area. Draw up a contract that defines what rights and responsibilities each party has to the future child and your family.