As I scrolled through my one of my social media apps one hot summer day, I came across a post one of my friends had shared. This post was about a well known you-tuber and her girlfriend finally being able to say that they were going to be mothers. The joy and the excitement they were feeling could be recognized by the way they had shared this big announcement. But, all those exclamation points and capitalized words could not explain the struggles they had faced to get this far. Having said this, I believe that the generation of the 21st century has been one of the luckiest when it comes to medical innovations.
“If the end product, your child, does not come out as you imagined, will you be disappointed?” (204).
As I had previously said in my first blog post, we have been granted many medical gifts which have created an easier lifestyle for many of us. In addition to all of this, I have to say that we are often times ungrateful for all of these innovations. In the other hand, sperm donation and egg freezing tend to be something that many people are grateful for even though it is not a new concept. Most people are grateful not for the struggles it come with but for what it creates. When someone considers trying artificial insemination, they must pay plenty of money in order to receive information from the sperm donor.In addition to that, according to the chapter, “Sperm Shopping” in Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank the individuals must also pay from $340 to $400 depending on whether they select a interactive insemination or an intrauterine insemination. The money and the struggles that go into this process is exactly the reason as to why I believe that those who try to become pregnant through artificial insemination are beyond grateful for having positive results. Furthermore, I do not believe that anyone can ever be disappointed in their child especially when they had less than a 30% chance of a positive outcome with only one cycle of the intrauterine insemination.
“In the old days… people were happy for a solution to infertility. Now, with single women and lesbian couples, the buyers are more ‘more choosy,’” (223).
Personally, I have to say that those who chose to go through the process of sperm donations and egg freezing are individuals who must be very confident and wish for a positive outcome. In the chapter, “The Big Chill,” as readers we are warned about all the things that could go wrong. Even though these factors are surprising yet scary, many individuals do not mind, and they proceed with the process. In 2013 it was said that the success rate of every frozen egg varies between 4% to 14% which is quite low. Overall, having read about sperm donation and egg freezing has given me a better understanding as to why these numbers seem to be low. In addition, I personally think that no matter how low these number are or how odd the chances are, no one should ever be discouraged to try.
“Nothing about the egg freezing/ thawing business is predictable. You cannot even tell if the egg has been damaged…So you can be paying for storage for dead eggs and not know it,” (235).
Overall, after reading Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank, I can successfully say that I am amazed and grateful for everything we have now. Due to all the lives that were lost because of improper care and bad hygienic conditions we can now say that we have been granted better and more improved conditions that helps reduce the chances of mortality among pregnant women. Words fail to describe how amazed and thankful I fell towards all of these medical changes that have created an incredibly positive impact in our lives.
StarPathDesign 
I enjoyed your blog post, a lot. It was really informative and can really help others learn. I really liked a point that you made saying that a person would’t be upset about their child knowing that there is only a 30% chance they could have a child. And I also like the point that you made saying even though the patients know the down sides of doing artificial insemination, they still go through with it. I think that as times have changed people will do anything to have a child of their own. Good job! -Nishi P.
Hey Yoselin I really enjoyed reading your blog post it was very thoughtful and informative about the medical innovations that now helps us to have hope. Your blog post made me understand more about the process and what it takes to become pregnant, there may be struggles along the way but the outcomes could be good. I agree with you that it is a medical gift to have sperm donors, egg freezing and artificial inseminations leading to create a new life. Good job Yoselin! – Natalia V.
Awesome blog post Yoselin! This blog post was super informative, I didn’t quite understand the struggles women have during artificial insemination. I knew there was a low success rate but I didn’t know how low and how much women have to pay to get inseminated and if it doesn’t work they still continue trying. Its truly heartbreaking. Its great when it actually does work and parents who never thought they could get pregnant become parents and that amazing. Great blog post!