ICSI appears to be problematic
The first
evidence that the fathers of test-tube babies may pass on their fertility
problems has been discovered in a new study. It was found that boys conceived
by the implantation of a single sperm cell into an egg using IVF were likely to
develop shorter fingers, an indicator known to be associated with infertility.
This new finding may be an indicator of a generation with less chance of having
their own children.

In Britain,
almost one in 50 babies is conceived through artificial means. Almost half are
conceived using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a process that
bypasses the competition that occurs between proportionally healthier and
unhealthier sperm in natural fertilisation. Only the healthiest sperm cell will
fertilise a given egg during natural fertilisation, whereas ICSI bypasses this
process. The result is that unhealthier sperm may be forced into an egg,
leading to a higher percentage chance of defects such as infertility. ~ Sunday Times, Feb 7

Jared Yee
ICSI
infertility
IVF

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

Latest posts by Michael Cook (see all)

• How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
• House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
• Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021