Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago Blog

Octomom and IVF – before June of 2008

• In June of 2008, Nadya Suleman was a single, unemployed mother of 6 children
• According to reports, she was receiving some “public assistance”
• All six of her children were reportedly conceived through in vitro fertilization
• All 6 kids were under 7 years old, including 2 year old twins

Then, she does IVF again

• In June of 2008, her IVF doctor transferred 6 frozen-thawed embryos to her uterus.
• Apparently, all six embryos survived – and 2 split into identical twins – so she ended up with eight fetuses growing in her uterus.
• Nadya declined having a fetal reduction procedure. Reduction can be done to selectively reduce the number of fetuses.
• The vast majority octuplet pregnancies would be expected to result in death of all fetuses after a severely premature birth.
• In her case the pregnancy progressed to viability. All 8 babies were born (prematurely) in January of 2009.
• This is apparently only the second living set of octuplets ever born in the United States.

Public debate rages

• Is she a fit mother?
• Should the fertility specialist have been willing to treat her at all?
• How many embryos should the doctor have transferred to her uterus?
• Should a physician that transfers that many embryos to a 33-year-old be sanctioned – or even lose his medical license?
• Why doesn’t the government pass laws to control fertility doctors?

(continue reading…)