More than 500,000 frozen embryos are stored, unused, in the nation's fertility clinics. The couples who created them have few choices about what to do with them -- they can freeze their unused embryos, donate them to another couple, donate them for scientific research or have the embryos destroyed. Studies show that six out of 10 would like to donate them for stem-cell research. But the logistical and ethical hurdles to doing so are huge. What should happen to leftover embryos?
My husband and I conceived twins using Invitro fertilization, however our story is a little different. We conceived using donated frozen embryos. We were the recipient of unused embryos. We cannot tell you the blessing this was to us. We have been so blessed with our twins and know this would not have been possible without this use of unused embryos. We are left now with frozen embryos that we did not use and are going to donate them as well to another infertile couple.
I think the only responsible thing we can do with frozen embryos is to donate them to other infertile couples. To say that we would create a bunch of embryos and then just destroy the ones we decide we don’t need (either by directly destroying them, or donating them to ultimately be destroyed) reflects poorly on what kind of a society we are. It’s even worse, in my opinion, to create a bunch of embryos and then conceive the ‘old-fashioned way’ (unplanned pregnancies aside). I think we have more responsibility to the embryos we’ve created then that.
My wife and I have been thru all of this. As uncomfortable as it is to think of one of ‘our’ children running around out in the world with no knowledge of us, we wouldn’t have been able to look at ourselves in the mirror if we had allowed our embryos to be destroyed.
in favor of the donation for stem cell research: you stated that you wouldnt be able to look at yourselves if you have allowed the embryos to be destroyed. thats a perfectly viable standpoint. but, what if one of your embryos was used to cure, say, MS? Or any major disease/disorder for that matter? There is such a surplus of embryos that its ok to say "hey, send half to research and donate the other half to couples." Its like that age old pro-choice statement: "If you're against abortion, don't have one." Its perfectly fine for you to not want to give your embryos to research, but is there any reason someone else shouldnt be able to?
choice
The couples should be allowed to choose, regardless of the statistics of who chooses what. Simple as that