Infertility Research Paper

Words: 1074
Pages: 5

As a couple consider starting a family many factors becomes important in their conversations. Being financially, physically and emotionally ready is important but most importantly is whether or not natural conception is possible. Fertility and factors that affect fertility becomes front and center in their minds.
1 in 8 couples (or 12% of married women) have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Infertility is a disease that is caused by the abnormal functioning of the male or female reproductive system. It is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse (six months if the woman is over age 35) or the inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth. Approximately one-third of infertility is attributed to the female partner, one-third attributed to the male partner and one-third is caused by a combination of problems in both partners or, is unexplained. (http://www.resolve.org/about/fast-facts-about-fertility.html)
Due to the heartbreaking possibility of infertility, may couples must think of unconventional ways
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The procedure was not successfully established until the last quarter of the twentieth century, however, history has documented the development of IVF dating back to 1878 when a large number of experiments began. In 1959 Min Chueh Chang in the United Sates, was able to successfully use IVF to impregnate a rabbit. This was significant progress however, technique with human embryos would not show success until the 1970s. In 1976 Edwards and Steptoe worked with an infertile couple, Lesley and John Brown in the United Kingdom. They eventually successfully transferred a fertilized egg in her uterus and on 25 July 1978, Leslie gave birth to Louise Brown, the first “test tube baby.”