ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION TEST TUBE BABIES The first test tube baby was born in 1981, and although the medical practice of artificial insemination has continued since then, it is still a very controversial issue. The practice has been used in the U.S. since the 1970s, but it is still not accepted by everyone in the medical profession. Artificial insemination is the practice of impregnating a female in some way other than sexual intercourse with a man. For example, a test tube baby is made by placing semen from a male donor into a test tube which contains an egg from the woman. In this way the egg is fertilized, and then it is returned to the woman's womb, where the baby develops, the same as in an ordinary pregnancy. Artificial insemination is used by couples who cannot conceive a child, because either the man or woman is infertile. When a man is infertile, sperm is taken from a hospital's "sperm bank", where sperm has been collected from male donors and then frozen until ready for use. When a woman cannot become pregnant, the husband's sperm is joined with an egg from a female volunteer (a surrogate) who will carry the fetus until birth and then give the baby to the contracting couple. The first birth involving a surrogate mother in Korea occurred in 1989. Although praised as a miracle for couples who cannot conceive a child by themselves, there are many people who either consider the practice immoral on religious grounds, or feel it can lead in the future to a kind of "baby manufacturing" similar to the way that we now build and sell cars. This is what could occur if couples are someday able to choose the donor of the semen or a surrogate mother from a catalogue. They would be able to choose by facial attractiveness, hair and skin color, intelligence and other physical characteristics. In cases of surrogacy, there have been many court cases in which the surrogate mother changed her mind and refused to give the baby up to the contracting couple, a difficult problem to solve, since the husband is the baby's legal father. At times courts have decided on the side of the surrogate mother and at other times, in favor of the contracting couple. Couples who like artificial insemination say that it is better to have a child that is at least half their own, rather than an adopted child, which is totally unrelated by blood. Words and Phrases controversial issue: People disagree and have strong opinions about it. impregnating a female. matting a woman get pregnant semen. the white liquid released from the male's penis during sex male donor: men who volunteer to allow their semen (which contains the male sperm cells) to be used fertilized: the male sex cell (sperm) joined with the female's egg cell (ovum) womb: the place in the woman's body where the baby forms conceive a child: make the woman pregnant through sexual intercourse infertile: The condition when a body cannot produce healthy sex cells. fetus. what the baby is called when it is inside the mother contracting couple: the husband and wife who signed the contract with the woman volunteer consider ...grounds: For example, most Christian churches do not approve of a woman having the child of a man to whom she is not married. refused ...up: She decided to keep the baby and refused to give it to the baby's father and his wife. baby's ...Father: Legal records and the baby's registration show both the father's and mother's names. courts ...mother: They decided to give the baby to the surrogate mother. Questions for Discussion What is your opinion of artificial insemination? Do you think it is a good idea? Why or why not? Do you think that children who were born through artificial insemination should be told that they began life in a test tube? Why or why not? Should parents be allowed to select male sperm donors or female surrogates from a catalogue? Why or why not? Should unmarried women who want to have a child (even though they don't have a husband) be allowed to have babies through artificial insemination? Why or why not? Do you think there is any difference between female surrogacy and males donating semen? Do you think one is okay, but the other is not? Give your opinion. What should be done if a surrogate mother refuses to give up the child to the father? Should she be allowed to keep the baby or should she be forced to give it to the father and his wife? Which do you feel is better--having a baby through artificial insemination or adopting a child from an orphanage? Why do you think so? If you are unable to have a child someday, what will you do? How much money do you think a surrogate mother should be paid? Which statement describes your general attitude toward artificial insemination? Explain your opinion. It is a miracle for couples who cannot have their own baby. It is a kind of "baby manufacturing." Do you think there should be a limit on the number of times a certain male donor's sperm can be used, or should there be no limit? Why or why not?