A. High fatality risk to mother
B. Expensive instruments and reagents
C. Husband/wife necessary for being donors
D. Less adoption of orphans
E. Not available in India
F. Possibility that the early embryo does not survive

• (A) A, B, C, D only
• (B) A, B, C, E, F only
• (C) B, D, F only
• (D) A, C, D, F only

Detailed Explanation

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) where fertilization occurs outside the body. While it has helped millions of couples, it comes with several significant drawbacks categorized into economic, social, and biological factors.

The correct statements are:

• B (Expensive instruments and reagents): IVF requires extremely specialized laboratories, high-precision instruments, and expensive biochemical reagents, making the procedure costly and inaccessible to many.
• D (Less adoption of orphans): From a social perspective, the availability of high-tech solutions like IVF often leads couples to pursue biological children at any cost, potentially reducing the rates of orphan adoption.
• F (Possibility that the early embryo does not survive): The success rate of IVF is not 100%. There is a significant biological risk that the embryo formed in the lab may fail to implant or survive after transfer to the uterus.

Why other statements are incorrect:

• A: While IVF has some medical risks (like OHSS), it does not carry a "high fatality risk" for the mother compared to natural pregnancy.
• C: ART methods include donor options (sperm/ovum donors); it is not strictly necessary for the husband or wife to be the donors.
• E: IVF is widely available in India and the country is a global hub for medical tourism in this field.

Related Theory

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) are a group of medical procedures used to address infertility. IVF-ET (In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer) is the most common form.

Components of the IVF Drawbacks

The challenges associated with IVF can be categorized into four main domains:

1. Economic Barriers

The technology requires "state-of-the-art" facilities. The high cost of specialized incubators, micromanipulators (for ICSI), and hormonal drugs means that in many developing nations, the treatment is restricted to the upper-income strata. It requires highly precision-handling by specialized professionals.

2. Biological & Technical Risks

• Success Rates: The average success rate per cycle often ranges from 20% to 35%. Multiple cycles may be needed, increasing physical and emotional stress.
• Embryo Survival: Not every fertilized egg reaches the blastocyst stage, and not every transferred embryo results in a pregnancy.
• Multiple Pregnancies: To increase success rates, often more than one embryo is transferred, leading to a higher risk of twins or triplets, which carries further medical complications.

3. Social and Ethical Concerns

In a country like India, where the population is high and many children are in need of homes, the push for biological children through ART is sometimes seen as a deterrent to orphan adoption. Furthermore, the "biological child" stigma in society makes people choose expensive medical routes over social ones.

4. Emotional and Psychological Impact

The "rollercoaster" of hormonal injections and the wait for results can lead to severe anxiety and depression in couples, especially if a cycle fails.

Key Terms in ART for NEET

• ZIFT (Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer): Transfer of zygote (up to 8 blastomeres) into the fallopian tube.
• IUT (Intra Uterine Transfer): Transfer of embryos with more than 8 blastomeres into the uterus.
• GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer): Transfer of an ovum collected from a donor into the fallopian tube of another female.
• ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection): A specialized procedure to form an embryo in the lab by directly injecting a sperm into an ovum.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)