Sex selection: choice and responsibility in human reproduction ...

Sex Selection: Choice and Responsibility in Human ReproductionSummaryPreimplantation sexselection: pros and consPros✓ Established technique✓ Reliable diagnosisCons✗ Invasive and disruptive– requires IVFtreatment16✓ Closely regulated andmonitored in the UK✗ May result in embryosof the unintended sexbeing produced whichmight then have to bediscarded✗ More expensive thansperm sortingtechniquesCombined methods49. A third option is to combine the two approaches discussed above (sperm sortingand PGD) and to conduct PGD on embryos that have been created with sperm thathas already been sorted into ‘X’ and ‘Y’ samples.50. Whilst this approach still requires IVF and is likely to be more costly than either ofthe other methods used singly, it offers the accuracy of PGD with a higher chance ofsuitable embryos being available for transfer by minimising the chances thatembryos of the unintended sex will be created in the first place. On the other handas only two embryos may be transferred in one IVF cycle if more than two eggs arefertilised it may still result in more embryos being created than can be used.Post-implantation sex selection51. The oldest methods of sex selection are those which involve selecting which childrenwill be born by terminating pregnancies where fetuses are shown, through prenataltesting, to be of the undesired sex, or, indeed simply killing new-born infants of theundesired sex (infanticide).52. Termination of pregnancy on grounds of fetal sex alone is illegal in the UK underthe Abortion Act 1967, although in cases in which there is a serious sex-linkeddisease there might be grounds for terminating a pregnancy if the fetus is at risk orif continuing the pregnancy will risk damaging the mental or physical health of thewoman or other children in the family.53. Infanticide is illegal in the UK.Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority