File this under "Future Very, Very Rich People Problems" — a British medical panel ruled today that a method of in vitro fertilization that seeks to eliminate inherited genetic diseases by introducing a third set of DNA to the mix is ethical as long as it's safe and effective. And as long as all parties agree on genetic…
Zygotes Aren't Entitled to Dead Parent's Benefits, Says Most Twilight…
Well, thank goodness that's settled. The Supreme Court ruled today that children conceived via in vitro fertilization after the death of a parent aren't automatically entitled to that dead parent's Social Security benefits, as they're not technically "survivors," because they're not "natural children" as defined by state…
Prospect of Boring Paperwork Keeps Chicago Mother from Obtaining U.S.…
Chicago native Ellie Lavi's attempts to obtain citizenship for her twin daughters has gotten caught on the snaggle-tooth of America's bureaucracy, with the U.S. State Department refusing to grant the children citizenship because Lavi, who used donor sperm and egg from an Israeli clinic, can't prove that either of the…
Even With IVF, Underweight Women Struggle To Conceive
It may not come as a surprise that women who are underweight have trouble conceiving, since they sometimes struggle with irregular periods. What's more surprising is that even IVF, which doctors thought would compensate for these problems, is still less effective in underweight women than in those at a healthy weight,…
An Ex-Addict Aims for Motherhood
Years after kicking heroin, a Time reporter finds herself injecting again-this time, in an attempt to get pregnant. Her IV-to-IVF twist of fate triggers a rush of reflections on the meaning of addiction, parenthood, and recovery.
The last time I gave myself an injection, the needle held heroin. Now, two decades later,…
New Test Will Increase IVF Success, Reduce Multiple Births
A new procedure analyzes embryos for chromosome abnormalities, allowing doctors to implant the healthiest specimens during in vitro fertilization. The test raises the IVF success rate from 20-30% to 90% and is expected to be available in three years.
Nobel Prize Goes To IVF Pioneer
85-year-old University of Cambridge professor Robert Edwards has won the Nobel Prize for inventing in-vitro fertilization. Edwards started developing the technique, which has led to the birth of approximately 4 million people, in the 1950s.
California Woman Delivers Eight Babies, But New Test May Put An End To …
A California woman who underwent fertility treatments has given birth to octuplets, but a new test may make the implantation of multiple embryos unnecessary, as doctors can now check the viability of eggs before fertilization.
Balancing The Risks And Benefits Of In-Vitro Fertilization
In this week's New York Times, Stephanie Saul takes a fascinating look at the world of in-vitro fertilization, exploring the safety of IVF treatments and the willingness of families to undergo the risks in order to conceive a child.
Embrace Of Embryonic Testing During IVF Doing More Harm Than Good?
Older women who undergo in vitro fertilization are often encouraged to shell out for pre-implantation genetic screening in an effort to determine the best embryos to implant. But there's increasing evidence that the screening does more harm than good.
