Following Alabama’s state Supreme Court ruling on IVF, doctors caution that both women undergoing in vitro fertilization and their potential babies could face significant health hazards. Additionally, young cancer patients may lose the opportunity to preserve future fertility if fertility clinics cease using frozen embryos.
The recent court decision, which deems embryos created via IVF as children, has sparked apprehension regarding potential civil liabilities arising from the destruction or damage of embryos. Consequently, some fertility clinics in Alabama have ceased operations, leaving patients in a state of emotional uncertainty. Meanwhile, clinics and medical professionals in other states are preparing for potential similar rulings or legislative actions.
For over 15 years, doctors have favored the use of frozen embryos in IVF procedures due to safety considerations for women seeking conception through this method. Dr. Zev Williams, a fertility specialist at Columbia University Fertility Center, emphasizes the health benefits associated with freezing embryos, highlighting its advantages for both pregnancy outcomes and maternal well-being.
The adoption of freezing embryos as a standard practice in IVF owes much to advancements in vitrification, a rapid freezing technique deemed safer for embryos. While there remains a risk of damage during the thawing process, doctors assert that compared to using fresh embryos, the complications are fewer.
Although data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 2% of babies in the U.S. are conceived using assisted reproductive technology, the conclusive evidence regarding the success rates of frozen embryos remains uncertain.
One notable advantage of freezing embryos is the ability to transfer one embryo at a time into the uterus, reducing the risks associated with multiple pregnancies, such as premature birth and related complications.
Furthermore, freezing embryos allows women’s bodies to recover from the physical toll of IVF procedures, which involve hormone medications that can lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This condition poses significant risks to pregnant women, including blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and even death.
