PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R. D. Lambert
TI  - [Extracorporal fertilization of the human oocyte and transfer of the embryo: consideration of technics and ethics]
DP  - 1983 Apr 01
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 802--807
VI  - 128
IP  - 7
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/128/7/802.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/128/7/802.full
SO  - CMAJ1983 Apr 01; 128
AB  - In vitro fertilization of human oocytes is successful only when several techniques are perfectly mastered. Accurate prediction of imminent ovulation by rapid radioimmunoassay of luteinizing hormone in the plasma, suitable hormonal treatment or ultrasonography, or a combination of these, leads to the recovery of mature oocytes. Factors such as suction strength and bore size of the aspiration needle may interfere with the recovery of follicular oocytes during endoscopy. Capacitation of the spermatozoa, the most critical part of the whole process, requires the presence of serum or serum albumin. Fertilization and embryonic development in vitro occur in well defined experimental conditions. However, in spite of all the precautions currently taken, the rate of success, in terms of pregnancies continued to term, is still much lower than that observed under natural conditions. Much better results will likely be obtained in the near future. The literature suggests that in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer do not have any harmful physical effects on the offspring. Moreover, the laws of biology suggest that in vitro fertilization of human oocytes does not raise any ethical problem with regard to the potential offspring. However, it is extremely difficult to identify ethical problems related to the influence of the technique of in vitro fertilization on the evolution of man and human society.