Oppose Stem Cell Research but support IVF?

[Chloe'sMom]

Just wondering (and didn't want to hijack another thread) if you Oppose Stem Cell Research can you support IVF? And if so - what is the basis for that opinion?

Thanks,
Amanda

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I've heard from some people that they support IVF as long as people only create as many blastocysts are they are willing to transfer. Usually, they don't realize that this is easier said than done.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I don't support either.

Odd coming from someone with a spinal cord injury, isn't it?

 

[DisneyFunfor3]

Hi again Chole's mom! I was wondering the same thing.

Karen

 

[JennyMominRI]

I don't support either.

Odd coming from someone with a spinal cord injury, isn't it?

Actually ,I totally understand where you are coming from..I'm on the other side but I can repect your consistancy

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Actually ,I totally understand where you are coming from..I'm on the other side but I can repect your consitancy

That's a nice change. I get a LOT of grief from the SCI community about my opinions on this subject.

 

[JennyMominRI]

That's a nice change. I get a LOT of grief from the SCI community about my opinions on this subject.

I would love a cure for my disease,but I would not want someone else to die to get that cure ..You view an embryo as on par with the already born,so I do *get* it..Do I have it right.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I would love a cure for my disease,but I would not want someone else to die to get that cure ..You view an embryo as on par with the already born,so I do *get* it..Do I have it right.

That's partly the reason. Also, I am just very doubtful there will ever be a "cure" for spinal cord injuries anyway. And even if there was one, it would not be beneficial for those injured a long time.

As far as IVF, it really has nothing to do with wasted embryos, or anything. I don't want this thread to turn into a huge debate so I will just keep my reasons to myself

ETA: You can't imagine the grief I went through because I wasn't on the Chris Reeve bandwagon.

 

[JennyMominRI]

That's partly the reason. Also, I am just very doubtful there will ever be a "cure" for spinal cord injuries anyway. And even if there was one, it would not be beneficial for those injured a long time.

As far as IVF, it really has nothing to do with wasted embryos, or anything. I don't want this thread to turn into a huge debate so I will just keep my reasons to myself

No problem.

 

[jennobrn01]

I truly don't know anyone that is against stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research though has many opponents.

There is an unlimited supply of stems cells available now through umbilical cord blood. The frontiers of research on umbilical stem cell usage are yet unreached. I truly do not see the need for embryonic research.

As for IVF, I am all for it as long as the embryo's are used.

 

[sha_lyn]

truly don't know anyone that is against stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research though has many opponents.

There is an unlimited supply of stems cells available now through umbilical cord blood. The frontiers of research on umbilical stem cell usage are yet unreached. I truly do not see the need for embryonic research.

As for IVF, I am all for it as long as the embryo's are used.

ITA. I am only against embryonic stem cell research. I am not against the use of umbilical stem cells, or adult stem cells. In fact from what little I've read from the scientific community, both of those options show more promise than embryonic cells.

 

[juligrl]

Figure this out- I'm anti-abortion/pro-life, but I'm not completely against embryonic stem-cell research either. I'm a great fence-sitter! I can understand both sides of the issue.

I think if I had gone to great lengths to get pregnant and had all the children I wanted to have and still had leftover embryos, I would like to have the choice to have them specifically used for embryonic stem-cell research. Personally, I couldn't ever see myself going to such great lengths to get pregnant and have the conundrum of what to do with my unused embryos in the first place, but they do exist, so what do you do with them?

 

[Laura]

ITA. I am only against embryonic stem cell research. I am not against the use of umbilical stem cells, or adult stem cells. In fact from what little I've read from the scientific community, both of those options show more promise than embryonic cells.

Adult cell research has been better-funded than embryonic and has been going on much longer. I don't know much about umbilical cells, to be honest. Recently a method was discovered of gleaning stem cells from blastocysts without destroy them. Hopefully that would help create new lines, which is the crux of the government's problem.

But a real conundrum is as juligrl states--because not all blastocysts created through IVF are implanted in a uterus, what should be done with them? If not research, what? People can say "I'm for IVF if all blastocysts are used", but we all know that isn't the case.

 

[Keli]

I could never have IVF because I could NOT leave frozen embryos in stasis. I don't think they would only fertilize the number of eggs they were going to implant that's the only way I could agree to that procedure.
I am not at all against stem cell research. I think it's wonderful and I hope they have great success with it.
I am against embryonic stem cell research which is a horse of a different color IMHO.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I am only against embryonic stem cell research. I am not against the use of umbilical stem cells, or adult stem cells. In fact from what little I've read from the scientific community, both of those options show more promise than embryonic cells.

I feel the same way. My Dad has Parkinson's and while I would love to think that there will be a cure, I don't think ESC is going to get us there.

The question is thought provoking though. I make a lot of noise about being anti abortion and against the death penalty, but I never really considered a position on IVF and it's relation to my concerns about stem cell research.

I think my primary concern about such research is where it will lead. I had an ethics professor in college that was always reminding us not to just look at what's being proposed now, but to look at where that may lead. I do not want to see us creating life to use for spare parts, and I do think that there is a legitimate chance that creating embryos for stem cells could lead down that path.

 

[jennobrn01]

so what do you do with them?

This may sound really tacky... but here goes...

Couldn't you sell them to couple's who are infertile and cannot afford IVF at a discount? That sounded so like I am talking about tires or something. Seriously though. Dh and I are friends with a couple who are both infertile. She would like the chance to birth a child but IVF is too costly for them. Rather than using them for stem cells... use them for what they were intended... living children.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I couldn't ever see myself going to such great lengths to get pregnant and have the conundrum of what to do with my unused embryos in the first place, but they do exist, so what do you do with them?

We donated our extra embryos to an infertile couple through a licensed adoption agency. It was not an easy decision, but the best one for us (and yes, a baby was born from them).

If we had decided to "discard" our embryos, we would have donated them to research. But the original intent for their creation was life, and that's what we wanted to see through.

Jenn, to my knowledge, embryos cannot be sold. However, some couples do choose to give away their extra embryos through their clinics. Your friend might want to inquire at nearby clinics if this is an option for her.

Chloe'sMom, FWIW, my answer to your original question lies in the intent of the creation of the embryos. Are they being created for life, or are they being created for research? That is how it could be that one is opposed to SCR, but not IVF. BTW, I am not opposed to SCR. It just wasn't the right choice for our embryos.

 

[zagafi]

The thing that many of you don't seem to understand is that not all embryos are even *viable*. Just because fertilization takes place, it does not indicate that all fertilized eggs will even make it to the blastocyst stage--more often than not, nature determines what gets done with the embryos. If they stop dividing, then there's nothing to transfer, much less freeze or donate. And yes, it is very possible to tell your doctor to not fertilize more than you are willing to transfer!

 

[reeeoga]

I am against expanding the Embryonic Stem Cell lines (see exception below).
I am for more Adult Stem Cell research, My daughter is a Type 1 Diabetic and I would like her cured. Adult Stem Cell research appears to be the best way to a cure for her.
I am for IVF if all of the viable Eggs are used for a new life. If the eggs are not viable I would not have a problem if they where used for research.
To the person who pointed out the non-viable eggs: Thanks for pointing that out. I had never considered that they could be used to help expand the Embryonic Stem Cell lines. It just never occured to me .

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The thing that many of you don't seem to understand is that not all embryos are even *viable*. Just because fertilization takes place, it does not indicate that all fertilized eggs will even make it to the blastocyst stage--more often than not, nature determines what gets done with the embryos. If they stop dividing, then there's nothing to transfer, much less freeze or donate.

True. However, embryos that are placed in the freezer have to be of "freezable quality" (i.e. still dividing/growing when they are frozen). And if they are of freezable quality, they have the potential to grow into a baby. When the ones we donated were thawed after 9 years in the freezer, they continued to grow. Had they not continued to grow, they would not have been implanted in the adoptive mother.

I am for IVF if all of the viable Eggs are used for a new life. If the eggs are not viable I would not have a problem if they where used for research.
To the person who pointed out the non-viable eggs: Thanks for pointing that out.

reeeoga, just to clarify - they are embryos, not eggs. Eggs do not freeze well by themselves. Sperm and fertilized embryos do. It just helps people understand the issues when the correct terminology is used.