Model Chrissy Teigen's announcement on Feb. 24 that she and her husband, John Legend are expecting a baby girl because they chose the gender during "in vitro fertilization" has now raised a question for many if that was even morally accepted and ethical. But this is not the first time that IVF had an issue about handpicking the gender of the child for conception. In fact, it has been 17 years since this question has been raised, but it is only now that it is becoming a big deal because it involves celebrities.
In a report published by CNN, back in 1999, a professional organization called the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) said that to pick the gender of the child during in vitro fertilization is not something that they encourage. But the organization changed their view about the said subject that last year, they even told clinicians to create their own policies and it is up to them if they would offer such service in their facility.
Lots of people are against choosing the baby's gender during IVF because it somehow goes against a natural process, but not all have the same opinion about it. Dr. Mark Sauer, head of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University Medical Center and a member of the at ASRM stated his own opinion about this issue saying, "From my own personal perspective, I don't think there's anything unethical about any of it, however it's ethically controversial."
IVF is often used by couples who are having a hard time getting pregnant like Teigen and Legend, who have always been open about their struggles regarding infertility. They are not the only couple who has used this method, but they are only under scrutiny because of choosing a gender during this process.
What about you? Do you think it is ethical to choose a baby's gender during IVF?
