scientific program • symposia - American Society for Reproductive ...

WEIGHT LIMITS FOR ACCESS TO FERTILITY SERVICES:
DISCRIMINATORY OR NONMALEFICENCE?
Presented by the ASRM Ethics Committee
Robert G. Brzyski, M.D. (Chalr)
University of Texas Health Science Center
Janis H. Fox, M.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Chloe A. Zera, M.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Lisa S. Lehmann, M.D., Ph.D.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM • SYMPOSIA
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Ken Ryan Ethics Symposium
Needs Assessment and Description
The epidemic of obesity in the United States is affecting the
reproductive-age population. Reports of the contribution
of obesity to infertility and to maternal and fetal morbidity
and mortality continue to accumulate. Recent inquiries from
practitioners to the Ethics Committee of ASRM indicate that
management of the obese infertile woman poses ethical
dilemmas in the community that warrant exploration.
CRYOPRESERVATION OF OOCYTES: ADVANCES AND PITFALLS
Presented by the Society of Reproducitive Biologists and Technologists
Emre Seli, M.D. (Chair)
Yale University School of Medicine
Andrea Borini, M.D.
Center for Reproductive Health, Bologna
Ana Cobo, Ph.D.
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad. Valencia
Z. Peter Nagy, M.D., Ph.D., H.C.L.D.
Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta
Needs Assessment and Description
Oocyte cryopreservation is rapidly becoming a widely
used procedure due to its increasing efficiency and the
advantages it provides in fertility preservation, as well
as more conventional assisted reproduction. However,
the equipment, protocols and procedures utilized by
different centers vary significantly. In addition, currently
the efficiency, advantages and disadvantages of different
approaches are incompletely understood by providers.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able
to:
1. Summarize the equipment and protocols utilized for
oocyte cryopreservation using slow-freezing and
vitrification approaches.
2. Outline efficiency, advantages and disadvantages of
oocyte cryopreservation by slow-freezing or vitrification.
Room F 3-4
73
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able
to:
1. Summarize the major effects of obesity on fertility and
obstetric outcomes.
2. Communicate the major ethical issues involved in
promoting or discouraging weight-based access to fertility
services.
ACGME COMPETENCY
Medical Knowledge
Patient Care
TEST QUESTION:
After participating in this session, I will do the following in my
practice:
A. Refuse to treat obese women because of the obstetric
and perinatal risks.
B. Require obese women to lose 5-10% of their body weight
prior to providing fertility services.
C. Prescribe metformin to all obese women.
D. Have no specific policy for withholding or providing care
for obese women.
E. Refer women with Class III obesity (BMI >40) to maternalfetal
and weight management specialists prior to fertility
treatment.
F. Not applicable to my area of practice.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Symposium
Room 230 A/B
ACGME COMPETENCY
Medical Knowledge
Patient Care
TEST QUESTION:
A healthy 25-year-old female law student presents to
your office requesting oocyte cryopreservation, as she
wants to pursue her career before having a family. After
participating in this session, in my practice I will do the
following in this situation:
A. Counsel the patient that oocyte preservation technology
is highly efficient and is in routine clinical practice.
B. Counsel the patient that there are conclusive data for
excellent clinical outcomes for oocyte preservation.
C. Counsel the patient that oocyte cryopreservation
is an experimental medical procedure and is currently
recommended only for women with cancer desiring to
preserve their fertility.
D. Not applicable to my area of practice.