By John Schieszer
Reuters UKSAN ANTONIO (Reuters
Health) - There are now an estimated 400,000 frozen embryos
being kept in clinics and laboratories across the United
States, left over from in vitro fertilization procedures. A
new study suggests that many of the couples who own these
embryos are uncertain what to do with them.
"When we embark upon new
reproductive technologies, even though they have tremendous
benefits for couples, sometimes they have unforeseen side
effects," said lead researcher Dr. Robert Nachtigall. "The
large number of frozen embryos that we have in the country
now are an expression of that,"
Nachtigall, who is a
clinical professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and
Reproductive Science at the University of California, San
Francisco, says about 50,000 new frozen embryos are
accumulating each year in the United States alone, but to
date no research has directly asked couples what they think
about their embryos and what they plan to do with them.
Nachtigall, who presented
his study findings Tuesday at the annual meeting of the
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM),
interviewed couples who conceived a child using either donor
sperm or eggs. Of the 37 participating couples who had
conceived using a donor egg, 26 had from 4 to 29 frozen
embryos in storage.
Among the 26 couples with
frozen embryos in storage, only nine had decided what they
wanted to do with them. Four couples intended to donate
their frozen embryos for research and three couples
preferred to dispose of them. One couple wanted to donate
them to another infertile couples, and one other couple had
plans to have another child themselves.
Although all couples in the
study recognized their embryos' potential for life, their
concepts of the embryos' status were very individualized.
Some of the couples
reported that they viewed the frozen embryos as living
beings capable of discomfort and suffering and other couples
viewed the frozen embryos as children with interests that
must be considered. Other couples viewed the frozen embryos
as family members, genetic or psychological insurance, or
symbolic reminders of past infertility.
Some of the couples viewed
the embryos as something that could be used in the future as
a part of a potential medical therapy for their current
children.
"We had one or two ...
raise that issue. I think that is not a predominant thought
at all, but you know we do live in a society right now which
is quite fascinated with the future that genetics will
hold," said Nachtigall in an interview with Reuters Health.
"The thought of having the ability to perhaps have some
medical use for these embryos for their current children in
the future has occurred to a few of the couples."
He said most of the couples
reported that they had not anticipated how terribly
difficult it would be to make decisions about what to do
with surplus embryos.
The couples also commented
on the lack of support, information, and guidance that is
currently available to them. All the couples said they
wanted to make a responsible and moral decision.
Fertility experts say this
study points out that couples who have stored frozen embryos
need to be offered ongoing counseling and support.
"We need to work with our
patients to help them come to the best decision for
themselves and their families on what to do with their
frozen embryos. It's very hard to figure out at the time of
your IVF care what you might want to do with your extra
embryos years in the future," said Dr. Sandra Carson, who is
President of ASRM.
