Reproductive Technologies

Reproductive technologies are a wonderful way to grant hope to struggling, infertile couples. Artificial insemination or donor insemination is one of the first reproductive treatments many couples will attempt if they are having difficulty conceiving. It is a great option because donor insemination is a painless, straightforward procedure that is inexpensive compared to other possible options. There are not many downsides to donor insemination. However, it does not guarantee a pregnancy, so certain couples may not receive the desired outcome and if the husband is unable to provide sperm for the procedure, a donor would be used. That is not something that I, personally, would consider if my husband were not capable of being the "real" father …show more content…
Another test that can be performed during a pregnancy is called Chorionic Villus Sampling. This is a procedure that occurs early on in pregnancy in which "a thin tube is inserted into the uterus through the vagina, or a hollow needle is inserted through the abdominal wall" (Berk, 44) of an expectant mother. A "small plug of tissue is removed from the end of one or more chorionic villi, the hairlike projections on the chorion, the membrane surrounding the developing organism" (Berk, 44). This is a wonderful procedure because it can be performed as early as 9 weeks after conception and parents would receive the results very quickly, within about 24 hours (Berk, 44). Chorionic Villus Sampling or CVS "can detect almost every chromosomal abnormality known to man. It can detect Down syndrome, Turner syndrome and other sex chromosome anomalies, trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 among others. Hundreds of genetic defects can also be identified using CVS. The test can detect Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis" (Chorionic Villus Sampling). The CVS procedure is also more accurate and less painful than an