British scientist Robert Edwards, the man who devised the fertility treatment IVF, has been awarded this year’s Nobel prize for medicine.
His efforts in the 1950s, 60s and 70s led to the birth of the world’s first “test tube baby” in July 1978.
Since then nearly four million babies have been born following IVF.
The prize committee said his achievements had made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition affecting 10% of all couples worldwide.
Was on a mission trip to Central America and we had a couple of Ob-gyn’s as well. They made the interesting comment that IVF has become so popular that the procedure of tubal ligation reversal has become very rare because most patients opt for IVF. It is a tricky procedure without guarantees.
IVF has left millions of embryos to be discarded in the trash.
One must not overlook the fact that the manner in which IVF is practiced produces extra embryos – i.e., babies – who must be disposed of.
My wife and I have struggled with infertility (although we managed to have two children with fertility drugs and IUI. We considered IVR but rejected it, mainly because of the extra embryo issue but also because of the cost which is still pretty steep if not covered by insurance (which it usually is not).