The Beginning of Life - Assisted Conception: Sperm & Egg Donation, IVF

This presentation covers the complex legal requirements for fertility treatment, including laws for solo mothers and surrogacy. It also delves into the ethical issues surrounding IVF, such as moral objections and eliminating ethical objections. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the positives of IVF in the ethical debate, including support from feminist advocates.

TheꢀBeginningꢀofꢀLif
e-ꢀ
AssistedꢀConceptionꢀ
–Spermꢀ
&ꢀEggꢀdonation,ꢀIVF

Tableꢀofꢀco
ntentꢀ

Introductionꢀ

Fertilityꢀlawꢀandꢀtreatm
ent

Lawsꢀforꢀsoloꢀmothers

complexꢀlegalꢀrequirementsꢀforꢀsurr
ogacy
 EthicalꢀissuesꢀwithꢀIVFꢀ
Lawsꢀregardingꢀsurrogacyꢀafterꢀmen
opause
 PositivesꢀethicalꢀdebateꢀofꢀIVF
 EthicalꢀissueꢀwithꢀIVFꢀtreatment
 MoralꢀobjectionsꢀtoꢀIVFꢀ

Tableꢀofꢀco
ntentꢀ

Eliminatingꢀtheꢀethicalꢀobjectionsꢀt
oꢀIVFꢀ
NICEꢀrecommendationsꢀ
 IVFꢀ criteriaꢀinꢀUKꢀ Criteriaꢀforꢀprivateꢀtreatment
 LegalꢀrestrictionsꢀonꢀIVFꢀ

Humanꢀfertilisationꢀandꢀembryolog
yꢀactꢀ
 Conclusionꢀ
Referencesꢀ

Introductio
nꢀ

Inꢀvitroꢀfertilizationꢀisꢀaꢀtypeꢀofꢀcomplexꢀprocessꢀw
hichꢀpreventꢀ
geneticꢀissueꢀandꢀhelpsꢀinꢀconceptionꢀofꢀaꢀchild.ꢀInꢀthisꢀprocessꢀ
allꢀtheꢀeggsꢀofꢀovariesꢀareꢀgatheredꢀandꢀ
fertilizedꢀwithꢀtheꢀ
donatedꢀsperms.ꢀ
 Itꢀtakesꢀapproximatelyꢀthreeꢀweeksꢀtoꢀ
completeꢀoneꢀcycleꢀofꢀ
IVF.ꢀItꢀisꢀaꢀtypeꢀofꢀmiracleꢀforꢀthoseꢀparentsꢀ
whoꢀareꢀunableꢀtoꢀ
conceive.ꢀItꢀisꢀveryꢀsafeꢀmethodꢀandꢀmoreꢀ
successfulꢀꢀmanyꢀ
otherꢀreproductiveꢀtechnologies.ꢀ

Overvie
wꢀ
 Thereꢀ areꢀ threeꢀ kindꢀ ofꢀ inꢀ vitroꢀ fertilizationꢀ
includingꢀ intraꢀ
cytoplasmicꢀ spermꢀinjection,ꢀ gameteꢀ intraꢀ
fallopianꢀtransferꢀandꢀ
zygoteꢀintraꢀfallopianꢀtransfer.ꢀ

Sinceꢀtheꢀbirthꢀofꢀworldꢀfirstꢀinꢀvitroꢀfertilisedꢀbaby,ꢀLou
iseꢀBrownꢀinꢀ
UK,ꢀ theꢀ publicꢀ ofꢀ UKꢀ areꢀ interestedꢀ inꢀ
assistedꢀ reproductiveꢀ
technology.ꢀAsꢀitꢀmakeꢀscientistꢀtoꢀmanipulateꢀ
spermꢀandꢀeggsꢀinꢀ
orderꢀ toꢀ eliminateꢀ theꢀ hurdlesꢀ comesꢀ inꢀ wayꢀ
ofꢀ fertilisationꢀ
(Cambridge,ꢀ2020).

Fertilityꢀlawꢀandꢀt
reatment
 Fertilityꢀ lawꢀ cameꢀ intoꢀ forceꢀ inꢀ
2008ꢀ inꢀ UK.ꢀ
Accordingꢀtoꢀtheꢀlawꢀlesbianꢀmotherꢀ
mayꢀbeꢀparentsꢀ
atꢀtheꢀbirthꢀofꢀtheꢀchildꢀandꢀcanꢀbeꢀna
medꢀasꢀhisꢀcivilꢀ
parentsꢀbutꢀthereꢀareꢀsomeꢀlegalꢀproced
ureꢀtheyꢀhaveꢀ
toꢀfollow.ꢀ

TheyꢀhaveꢀtoꢀgetꢀappropriateꢀformsꢀatꢀaꢀU
Kꢀlicensedꢀ
fertilityꢀclinicꢀandꢀregisteredꢀthemꢀ
selvesꢀasꢀcivilꢀ
parents.ꢀ

Lawsꢀforꢀsoloꢀ
mothers
 Singleꢀmother,ꢀifꢀtheyꢀconceiveꢀthroughꢀ
donatedꢀspermꢀtheyꢀareꢀ
requiredꢀtoꢀtakeꢀspecificꢀlegalꢀcareꢀ(Edwards,ꢀ2018
).ꢀUnsuccessfulꢀ
IVFꢀcausesꢀdivorceꢀasꢀtheꢀmotherꢀisꢀnotꢀableꢀtoꢀc
onceive.ꢀ
Afterꢀtheꢀdivorceꢀaꢀwomanꢀcanꢀrepresentꢀherselfꢀasꢀs
ingleꢀwomanꢀ
atꢀtheꢀfertilityꢀclinic.ꢀSheꢀrequiredꢀtoꢀbeꢀawareꢀ
ofꢀlegalꢀpitfallꢀifꢀ
sheꢀisꢀconceivingꢀwithꢀaꢀknownꢀmaleꢀspermꢀdonor.ꢀ

Complexꢀlegalꢀrequirementsꢀf
orꢀsurrogacy
 Lawꢀandꢀlegislationꢀregardingꢀtheꢀsurrogacyꢀ
isꢀveryꢀlengthyꢀ
inꢀUK.ꢀParentsꢀmustꢀapplyꢀtoꢀtheꢀhighꢀ
courtꢀtoꢀgetꢀparentalꢀ
ordersꢀandꢀfulfilꢀallꢀtheꢀlegalꢀrequirementsꢀforꢀt
heꢀsurrogacy.ꢀ
 Fatherꢀandꢀmotherꢀbothꢀareꢀrequiredꢀtoꢀfileꢀ
aꢀparentalꢀorderꢀ
fromꢀtheꢀcourtꢀwhereꢀasꢀsingleꢀmotherꢀisꢀnotꢀa
llowedꢀtoꢀfileꢀtoꢀ
getꢀparentalꢀordersꢀ(Ferberꢀandꢀet.ꢀal.,ꢀ 2020).ꢀ

Ethicalꢀissuesꢀwit
hꢀIVFꢀ
 IVFꢀfoundꢀfaultꢀonꢀtheꢀethicalꢀgroundꢀasꢀitꢀisꢀanalysedꢀ
theꢀembryosꢀhaveꢀbeenꢀ
mixedꢀup.ꢀToꢀminimizeꢀthisꢀerrorꢀHFEAꢀhasꢀintroducesꢀ
doubleꢀwitnessꢀsystemꢀ
whichꢀalsoꢀeliminatesꢀconflictsꢀamongꢀparents.ꢀ
 Inꢀthisꢀsystemꢀthereꢀareꢀtwoꢀspecialistꢀwhoꢀisꢀreliableꢀtoꢀ
makeꢀsureꢀthereꢀisꢀnoꢀ
error.ꢀ ItꢀhasꢀbeenꢀcriticisedꢀthatꢀIVFFꢀisꢀagainstꢀtheꢀnaturalꢀconceptionꢀandꢀanyꢀ
womenꢀcanꢀgetꢀpregnant,ꢀhaveꢀbabiesꢀevenꢀafterꢀtheirꢀmeno
pause.ꢀ
 Manyꢀobjectionsꢀarouseꢀfromꢀtheꢀgroupꢀofꢀpeopleꢀwhoꢀ
wereꢀagainstꢀtoꢀtheꢀ
unmarriedꢀparentsꢀwithꢀdameꢀsexꢀ(Macin
tosh,ꢀ2019).ꢀ

Lawsꢀregardingꢀsurrogacyꢀafterꢀmenopause
 Inꢀspiteꢀofꢀtheseꢀreligiousꢀconceptsꢀandꢀethicalꢀobjectsꢀ
thereꢀisꢀnothingꢀwhichꢀisꢀ
againstꢀtheꢀIVFꢀtreat
ment.ꢀ
 Treatmentꢀisꢀnotꢀbasedꢀonꢀanyꢀreligion,ꢀsexualꢀorientationꢀ
andꢀꢀotherꢀfactorsꢀbutꢀ
thereꢀareꢀalsoꢀcertainꢀlimitationsꢀasꢀwomenꢀafterꢀherꢀmenopau
seꢀfaceꢀdifficultiesꢀinꢀ
gettingꢀparentalꢀorders.ꢀ Afterꢀtheꢀmenopause,ꢀtheꢀchancesꢀofꢀsuccessfulꢀIVFꢀgetꢀ
reducedꢀandꢀthisꢀtheꢀ
reasonꢀwhyꢀtheꢀgettingꢀparentalꢀorderꢀbecomesꢀquitꢀ
toughꢀ(MonasterioꢀAstobizaꢀ
andꢀMolinaꢀPérez,ꢀ2022).ꢀ

Positivesꢀethicalꢀdebat
eꢀofꢀIVF
 ThereꢀareꢀalsoꢀsomeꢀpositivesꢀofꢀIVFꢀinꢀtheꢀethicalꢀ
debateꢀasꢀtheꢀfeministꢀ
advocatesꢀsupportꢀthoseꢀwhoꢀwantsꢀtoꢀpresentꢀthemselvesꢀasꢀaꢀsingleꢀmotherꢀ
andꢀwantꢀtoꢀhaveꢀkidsꢀafterꢀgettingꢀdivorced.ꢀThereꢀ
areꢀnumberꢀofꢀgroupsꢀ
whoꢀareꢀstillꢀinꢀfavourꢀinꢀtheꢀtreatmentꢀandꢀareꢀbeyondꢀth
eseꢀcontroversy.ꢀ
 Forꢀexampleꢀparentsꢀhavingꢀfertilityꢀproblemsꢀandꢀ
healthꢀareꢀprofessionalsꢀ
whoꢀareꢀresponsibleꢀforꢀtheꢀtreatmentsꢀs
upportsꢀIVF.ꢀ
 Theyꢀtrulyꢀbeliefꢀthatꢀinfertilityꢀisꢀkindꢀofꢀillnessꢀorꢀ
disorderꢀwhichꢀcanꢀbeꢀ
treatedꢀwithꢀtheꢀhelpꢀofꢀmodernꢀmedicalꢀscienceꢀandꢀapp
ropriateꢀmedicines.ꢀ

EthicalꢀissueꢀwithꢀIVFꢀtreatment

EthicalꢀissueꢀofꢀIVFꢀmayꢀincludeꢀtheꢀqualityꢀofꢀconsentꢀobtainedꢀfromꢀtheꢀparties theꢀmotivationꢀofꢀtheꢀparents,ꢀtheꢀstorageꢀandꢀfateꢀofꢀ
surplusꢀembryos,ꢀtheꢀ
permissibilityꢀofꢀsex-
selectionꢀandꢀtheꢀusesꢀandꢀimplicationsꢀofꢀpre-implantationꢀ
geneticꢀdiagnosis.ꢀ
Itꢀisꢀanalysedꢀthatꢀthereꢀisꢀtimeꢀatꢀwhichꢀitꢀisꢀnotꢀpossibleꢀtoꢀi
dentifyꢀtheꢀembryoꢀbecauseꢀlackꢀofꢀdifferentiationꢀinꢀcellsꢀ(Oliveiraꢀan
dꢀet.ꢀal.,ꢀ2021).ꢀ

Moralꢀobjectionsꢀt
oꢀIVFꢀ

Inꢀethicsꢀandꢀreligionꢀtheꢀsanctityꢀtoꢀlifeꢀisꢀaꢀkeyꢀprincipl
eꢀwhichꢀisꢀusedꢀtoꢀprotectꢀtheꢀ
life.ꢀ
 Accordingꢀtoꢀthisꢀprinciple,ꢀembryosꢀshouldꢀnotꢀbeꢀ
treatedꢀcarelesslyꢀorꢀ
shouldꢀnotꢀdestroyedꢀwhereꢀasꢀinꢀIVFꢀtreatmentꢀ
thereꢀareꢀnumberꢀofꢀ
embryosꢀareꢀdestroyed.ꢀ
Unfortunately,ꢀinꢀtheꢀprocedureꢀaꢀnumberꢀofꢀembryosꢀareꢀf
oundꢀfrozenꢀorꢀ
likelyꢀtoꢀdie.ꢀAꢀnumberꢀofꢀcriticismꢀstemꢀfromꢀ
argumentꢀthatꢀIVFꢀisꢀ
totallyꢀagainstꢀtheꢀnaturalꢀprocessꢀofꢀconceptionꢀandꢀch
ildbirthꢀ(Sillsꢀandꢀ

Eliminatingꢀtheꢀethicalꢀobjecti
onsꢀtoꢀIVFꢀ
 CoupleꢀgoingꢀthroughꢀtheꢀIVFꢀtreatmentꢀareꢀ
requiredꢀtoꢀbeꢀawareꢀofꢀ
theꢀethicsꢀandꢀmoralꢀobjectionꢀraised.ꢀByꢀcreatingꢀon
lyꢀtheꢀnumberꢀofꢀ
embryosꢀwhichꢀcanꢀbeꢀusedꢀforꢀsafeꢀandꢀ
healthyꢀpregnancyꢀareꢀ
implantedꢀintoꢀuterus,ꢀaꢀdoctorꢀcanꢀprotectꢀlives.ꢀ Thusꢀthereꢀwillꢀbeꢀnoꢀfrozenꢀembryosꢀkeptꢀforꢀ
theꢀfurtherꢀcycle.ꢀAꢀ
marriedꢀcoupleꢀusingꢀIVFꢀtreatmentꢀbutꢀnotꢀinvolvingꢀanyꢀotherꢀthirdꢀ
party,ꢀtheyꢀtrulyꢀpreserveꢀtheꢀmeaningꢀofꢀchildꢀidenti
tyꢀandꢀmarriage.ꢀ

NICEꢀrecommenda
tionsꢀ
 NICEꢀstandsꢀforꢀnationalꢀinstituteꢀforꢀ
healthꢀandꢀcareꢀ
excellence
.ꢀ

Thisꢀinstituteꢀprovidesꢀtheꢀguidelinesꢀregardingꢀt
heꢀfertilityꢀ
andꢀtheseꢀguidelinesꢀmakeꢀ
recommendationꢀthatꢀeveryoneꢀ
hasꢀaccessꢀtoꢀgetꢀtheꢀIVFꢀtreatmentꢀinꢀUK.ꢀ

Nationalꢀhealthꢀinstituteꢀhasꢀspecificꢀcareꢀboardsꢀtooꢀwhichꢀgivesꢀtheꢀfinalꢀdeci
sion.ꢀ

IVFꢀcriteriaꢀinꢀUKꢀ
 Accordingꢀtoꢀtheꢀnationalꢀheathꢀservicesꢀthereꢀareꢀ
someꢀconditionsꢀwithꢀ
gettingꢀIVFꢀtreatm
ent.ꢀ

ItꢀincludesꢀpeopleꢀmayꢀgetꢀIVFꢀtreatmentꢀifꢀhavingꢀaꢀheal
thyꢀweight,ꢀnotꢀ
smoking,ꢀfallingꢀintoꢀaꢀcertainꢀageꢀrangeꢀandꢀnotꢀ
havingꢀanyꢀchildrenꢀ
alreadyꢀfromꢀbothꢀcurrentꢀandꢀanyꢀpreviousꢀrelationships
.ꢀWomenꢀcanꢀgetꢀ
theꢀtreatmentꢀifꢀtheyꢀareꢀunderꢀ35.ꢀ
 NICEꢀendorseꢀaroundꢀ3ꢀtoꢀ4ꢀcycleꢀneedꢀtoꢀbeꢀ
providedꢀonꢀNHS.ꢀInꢀ
exceptionalꢀorꢀemergencyꢀcasesꢀNHSꢀfundedꢀI
VFꢀisꢀoffered.ꢀ

Criteriaꢀforꢀprivateꢀ
treatment

ParentsꢀwhoꢀareꢀnotꢀeligibleꢀforꢀNHSꢀtreatmentꢀth
eyꢀcanꢀalsoꢀpayꢀforꢀgettingꢀIVFꢀtrea
tment.ꢀ
 Thisꢀkinꢀofꢀprivateꢀtreatmentꢀareꢀavailableꢀ
inꢀprivateꢀclinicsꢀ
andꢀhospitals.ꢀTheseꢀprivateꢀclinicsꢀaskꢀforꢀ
theꢀGPꢀbeforeꢀ
startingꢀtheꢀtreatmentꢀ(Tsigdinos,ꢀ2022).ꢀ

Legalꢀrestrictionsꢀ
onꢀIVFꢀ
 Theꢀdevelopmentꢀofꢀsurrogacyꢀraisedꢀsomeꢀethicalꢀ
objectionsꢀandꢀ
questionsꢀsuchꢀasꢀpotentialꢀabuseꢀofꢀtheꢀ
technologyꢀbyꢀtheꢀhumanꢀ
traffickingꢀindustry,ꢀdonorꢀselectionꢀcriteriaꢀ,issuesꢀ
ofꢀembryonicꢀ
genderꢀselectionꢀ andꢀ theꢀembryo’sꢀlegalꢀstatusꢀandꢀprotections.ꢀ
 Inꢀ1982,ꢀgovernmentꢀofꢀUKꢀestablishedꢀ
Warnockꢀcommitteeꢀꢀforꢀtheꢀ
inquiryꢀofꢀembryologyꢀandꢀfertilisation.ꢀThisꢀ
committeeꢀhasꢀallꢀtheꢀ
specialistꢀandꢀhealthꢀcareꢀprofessionalꢀwhoꢀareꢀ
enableꢀtoꢀdetectꢀtheꢀ
possibilityꢀofꢀerror.ꢀ

Humanꢀfertilisationꢀandꢀemb
ryologyꢀactꢀ

Accordingꢀtoꢀtheꢀdefinitionꢀofꢀactꢀaꢀnumberꢀofꢀvitalꢀtermsꢀinꢀaccommodatedꢀreproductionꢀasꢀlikeꢀasꢀ“embryosꢀ”””””””””””””” (ꢀ twoꢀ cellꢀ zygoteꢀ
stages)ꢀ andꢀ “mother””””””””””””””
thatꢀisꢀtheꢀladyꢀwhoꢀhasꢀtookꢀtheꢀembryo.ꢀ
 Accordingꢀ toꢀ thisꢀ act,ꢀ aꢀ ladyꢀ whoꢀ hasꢀ givenꢀ anꢀ eggꢀ
butꢀ hasꢀ notꢀ takenꢀ theꢀ
embryoꢀ intoꢀ herꢀ bodyꢀ toꢀ fullꢀ timeꢀ ofꢀ pregnancyꢀ isꢀ
notꢀ consideredꢀ asꢀ theꢀ
motherꢀofꢀtheꢀbaby,ꢀwithꢀtheꢀexceptionalꢀcaseꢀofꢀadoption
ꢀofꢀbaby.ꢀ

Conclusio
nꢀ

Theꢀaboveꢀessayꢀprovidedꢀaꢀbriefꢀinformationꢀaboutꢀtheꢀle
galꢀandꢀethicalꢀ
pointꢀ ofꢀ viewꢀ ofꢀ IVF.ꢀ Thereꢀ wasꢀ aꢀ briefꢀ discussionꢀ
overꢀ theꢀ synergyꢀ
betweenꢀtheꢀlawꢀandꢀethicalꢀtheoriesꢀonꢀIVF.ꢀ
 Thereꢀ wereꢀ aꢀ lotꢀ ofꢀ objectionsꢀ raisedꢀ onꢀ IVFꢀ byꢀ
theꢀ differentꢀ religiousꢀ
groupsꢀbecauseꢀeveryꢀindividualꢀhasꢀhisꢀownꢀopinionꢀa
ndꢀthinkingꢀaboutꢀ
IVF.ꢀ Thereꢀ areꢀ someꢀ legalꢀ requirementsꢀ whichꢀ haveꢀ toꢀ
beꢀ fulfilledꢀ inꢀ caseꢀ
someoneꢀwantsꢀtoꢀgetꢀIVFꢀtreatment.ꢀThisꢀessayꢀmadeꢀ
theꢀreaderꢀfamiliarꢀ
withꢀallꢀlawsꢀandꢀregulationsꢀregardingꢀtheꢀIVF.

Referenc
esꢀ

Cambridge,ꢀA.A.,ꢀ2020.ꢀRegulatingꢀAssistedꢀReproductiveꢀTechnologies:ꢀ
NewꢀHorizons. Dickens,ꢀ B.M.,ꢀ 2020.ꢀ Paidꢀ surrogacyꢀ abroadꢀ doesꢀ notꢀ violateꢀ publicꢀ policy:ꢀ UKꢀ
Supremeꢀ Court.ꢀInternationalꢀ
JournalꢀofꢀGynecologyꢀ&ꢀObstetrics,ꢀ150(1),ꢀ
pp.129-133.
 Edwards,ꢀ R.G.,ꢀ 2018.ꢀ Introductionꢀ andꢀ developmentꢀ ofꢀ IVFꢀ andꢀ itsꢀ ethicalꢀ
regulation.ꢀ InꢀInꢀ VitroꢀFertilisationꢀ inꢀ
theꢀ1990sꢀ(pp.ꢀ3-
18).ꢀRoutledge.

Ferberꢀandꢀet.ꢀal.,ꢀꢀ2020.ꢀIVFꢀandꢀAssistedꢀReproduction.ꢀSpri
ngerꢀSingapore. Hasson,ꢀ K.ꢀ andꢀ Darnovsky,ꢀ M.,ꢀ 2020.ꢀ Geneticꢀ Justice:ꢀ Identityꢀ andꢀ
Equalityꢀ inꢀ theꢀ Biotechꢀ
Age.ꢀDevelopment,ꢀ63(1),ꢀpp.1
40-144.

Referenc
esꢀ

Koch,ꢀL.,ꢀ2018.ꢀTwoꢀdecadesꢀofꢀIVF:ꢀAꢀcriticalꢀappraisal.ꢀInꢀInꢀVitroꢀFertilisationꢀinꢀtheꢀ1990s
ꢀ(pp.ꢀ19-28).ꢀRoutledge. Macintosh,ꢀ K.L.,ꢀ 2019.ꢀ Heritableꢀ genomeꢀ editingꢀ andꢀ theꢀ downsidesꢀ ofꢀ aꢀ globalꢀ
moratorium.ꢀTheꢀ CRISPRꢀ
Journal,ꢀ2(5),ꢀpp.272-
279.
 Marquetaꢀandꢀet.ꢀal.,ꢀꢀ2022.ꢀP-
628ꢀDoꢀovarianꢀreserveꢀmarkersꢀandꢀfemaleꢀageꢀpredictꢀtheꢀrateꢀofꢀeuploidꢀblastocystsꢀinꢀ
IVF/
ICSIꢀcycles?.ꢀHumanꢀReproduction,ꢀ37(Supplement_1),ꢀpp.de
ac107-577. Monasterioꢀ Astobiza,ꢀ A.ꢀ andꢀ Molinaꢀ Pérez,ꢀ A.,ꢀ 2022.ꢀ Whyꢀ iBlastoidsꢀ (Embryo-likeꢀ
Structures)ꢀ Doꢀ Notꢀ Riseꢀ
SignificantꢀEthicalꢀIssues.ꢀTheꢀAmericanꢀJournalꢀofꢀBioethics,
ꢀ22(1),ꢀpp.59-61.