Day 5: Undecided

We got our packet of information from the clinic this weekend. It is a folder which contains a slew of instructions, consent forms and details about our upcoming IVF cycle. We are suppose to read it and be prepared to sign the various release forms in front of a witness (the Dr.) during our Informed Consent meeting on the 17th.

The packet contains a consent form that is 6 pages in length titled "Authorization For Embryo Cryopreservation." Basically, it is all what we want to do with any extra embryos that are created during our IVF cycle. In all of our meetings with the Dr. thus far, he has been very optimistic about the ability for me to stimulate well and therefore generate lots of eggs for fertilization. At one point he quoted 10-15 eggs as what he might expect. Now, not all of those eggs will probably fertilize and become viable embryos, but there is a very good chance that we'll end up with more embryos than than the 1 we plan to put back. Therefore the question is, what do we want to do with those extra embryos?

In the short-term, the answer is simple. We want to save them in case the cycle doesn't work (although we all know that won't be the case) or when the time comes for us to further extend our family.

It is the long-term that raises questions. There may come a time when our family is complete and we may still have frozen embryos in storage. Additionally, the form asks us to provide instructions on the future of our embryos in the event of "special situations" such as divorce, death of a spouse, death of both of us, etc. We're essentially given 4 options for consideration:

1. thawing and discarding the embryos according to clinic protocol
2. cryopreserving and donating the embryos for research purposes
3. cryopreserving and making them available for use by X and X.
4. cryopreserving and donating the embryos for anonymous use by another person or couple

I brought this topic up during dinner tonight with the Husband. He was quick with an opinion. Anything other than option 1 (thaw and discard) didn't seem right to him. He didn't like the idea of an embryo with our genetic make-up out in the world without us.

I, on the other hand, am undecided. The "discarding" language of the first option upsets me slightly and I can't help but hear a flushing noise when I think about it.

Part of me is also very uncomfortable with the idea of donation. The idea that our embryo, with our DNA, could come into this world as part of another family. But at the same time, I know the extreme pain, heartache and yearning that comes from infertility and there is something about the possibility of us helping another couple recognize their dream of a child that I think warrants some thought.

The research option also interests me as I understand that research on embryos has the potential to produce many major medical discovers such as cures for previously untreatable diseases and disorders. However, I am aware of the ethical and religious views on these types of experiments.

So, I am undecided.

I think we'll both sleep on it for a few nights and see where we end up as we know there is really no right or wrong answer. We just need to determine what feels right to us.



Total Pill Count: 6 Total Shot Count: 0