As a result of recent advancements in reproductive technology, many infertile couples have turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF) as an alternative means of conception. Following the birth of the first test-tube baby in the United States in 1981, IVF has enabled the birth of more than 114,000 babies. Many couples who are struggling to conceive children view IVF as a last chance and a last hurrah for biological parenthood.
During the IVF process, a clinician extracts eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizes them in a laboratory. Subsequently, several of the resulting embryos are transferred into the womans uterus. In recent years, many couples have opted to cryopreserve the remaining embryos, thereby retaining multiple future opportunities to conceive without the necessity of further egg retrieval attempts. . . .