THE HONEYBALL BUZZ

I was contacted earlier today by the “Guardian” Comment is Free site asking me whether I would write a piece about fertility treatment.  Covered at length in the newspaper today as a result of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology Conference currently being held in Amserdam, the subject, I believe, defies any real rational analysis.  I have to say that, since I have a number of conflicting views, I declined to write anyting for the “Guardian”, preferring to air some of my thoughts on this blog instead.

The “Guardian” has run two different stories – one about women travelling abroad for fertility treatment and the other concerning the advances in technology which make ovary freezing a viable option.  On the so-called fertilty tourism, the only real objection I can see is the plight of those who have donated eggs.  The fact that there is a disctinct corelation between the amount of money paid and the number of eggs donated, ie in countries where women are paid the highest to give eggs, more of them are actually donated, speakes volumes.  Young women may not be well enough counselled on the implications of donating eggs, which inevitably means they have in fact given up some of their genetic inheritance to create children they will never see.

As for the women who receive the treatment, the risk of multiple births should, I believe, be minimised, something not always done as some countries allow several eggs to be implanted.  Yet in the end it is probably up to the woman and the other partner involved (if there is one) to make the final decision.  The real shame, however, is that fertility tourism is only open to those who can afford it.  It’s a choice which depends on money, as do so many other things.  The providers of fertility treatment know this and charge accordingly.  It’s a line of work capable of generating high revenues, sadly often out of other people’s misery.

As far as freezing overies is concerened, we are now told this is scientifically possible.  The advantage is that women may give birth later, once their careers are launched or other life enhancing events begun.  I think it’s probably OK, though again money is the key.  I certainly do not criticise older mothers.  Men have always been able to be older fathers and these days when, at least in the west, we live and remain healthy longer, I see few practical problems.

My final thought is that I worry about all this emphasis on giving birth.  I do not have children and I really don’t feel my life has been diminished.  There have always been quite large numbers of women who haven’t had children for one reason or another as well as many men who end up in the same position.  Maybe infertility is just something we should live with like previous generations and not feel that we are incomplete unless we are parents.  On the other hand, I wouldn’t like to condemn those to childlessness who really want to be parents.  What do you think?