World Health Day 2023 marks 75 years of the World Health Organization and the focus this year is Health For All.
In this video from the WHO, they give us the important message of:
“Working to face the challenges of the future with science, solutions and solidarity”
One of the predicted problems of the future is fertility. With declining birth rates in many western countries, the age of first time mothers steadily increasing and the increasing number and variety of modern family models, the future looks likely to depend heavily on assisted reproduction techniques to provide the answers.
At OvobankUS, we believe that assisted reproduction embodies the concept of tackling future obstacles with science, solutions and solidarity, and in this blog we would like to explain why.
SCIENCE AND SOLUTIONS ARE PILLARS OF MODERN ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES
As a global society moving forward with a collective goal of Health For All, here at OvobankUS we also consider reproductive health is for everyone too. However, the unfortunate truth for many prospective parents is that they do suffer problems with reproductive health, and are unable to conceive naturally. Advances in reproductive medicine and assisted reproduction have helped millions of people worldwide to experience the joys of parenthood, using science as the solution.
Within recent years, the exciting field of reproductive medicine has seen many developments, some examples include:
- Introduction of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) for fertilization of egg cells, where there is diminished quantity or quality of sperm, and for previously frozen eggs.
- Vitrification of embryos, allowing them to be frozen extremely quickly without the formation of ice crystals, allowing any unused embryos to be cryopreserved for future use with a survival rate nearing 100% after thawing.
- Egg freezing, whether for fertility preservation or for egg donation purposes, again using vitrification. This has revolutionized the storage of the fragile female reproductive cell and opened the way forward for fertility treatments for many intended parents.
- Preimplantation genetic testing, where an embryo is biopsied to ensure it has the correct chromosomal content, and also, if required, to screen for any mutations in certain genes that cause hereditary diseases thereby minimizing the risk of having an baby with a genetic disease.
SOLIDARITY AT THE CORE OF THIRD PARTY REPRODUCTION
Within the field of assisted reproduction we have third party reproduction, where some “outside” help is needed in making the baby. In 3rd party reproduction, an egg donor, sperm donor or a gestational surrogate is used, depending on the needs of the intended parents.
This could be a woman who has delayed motherhood until her career is secure and needs donor eggs from a younger woman to achieve pregnancy, a single woman who wishes to become a single mother by choice and needing donor sperm, or a same sex male couple who wish to fulfil their dreams of having a family, and needing donor eggs and a gestational carrier to make their dreams come true.
The very existence of the generous individuals who give to others their time, reproductive cells, or the use of their reproductive system, is the epitome of solidarity. These donors and surrogates provide an essential and altruistic service which help to make the future better for those who may not have full reproductive health.
In short, from OvobankUS we thank all the scientists, doctors, health workers, donors and surrogates, who all work together in assisted reproduction to face these future fertility challenges, using science to find solutions and solidarity to support those who need it.
#HealthForAll #WHO75