Reproductive Technology and the Controversy over Multiple Births

Professor Wu Jia-Ling's New Book Discussion Session.

I'm delighted to have been invited by the Department of Humanities and Social Medicine at National Cheng Kung University Medical College to participate in the new book discussion session of Professor Wu Jia-Ling from the Department of Sociology at National Taiwan University.
Reproductive technology has brought infinite hope for women's fertility, yet it has also led to a high proportion of multiple births. We look forward to successful pregnancies, but we also need to consider the health of both mother and baby, and minimize the risks during pregnancy and childbirth.

Professor Wu has painstakingly compiled numerous domestic and international medical literature, social studies, and media materials. From diverse perspectives such as reproductive medicine, national systems, the medical market, social culture, and gender politics, she analyzes the development history of reproductive technology, multiple embryo transfer, and multiple births. The rich interview content in the book allows us to think about this issue in the context of Taiwan and feel the various pressures and challenges women face.

Thank you, Professor Wu, for this monograph which brings more diverse perspectives to the field of reproductive technology in Taiwan. It reminds us that while we pursue high pregnancy rates, we must also consider the issue of maternal and infant physical and mental health.Being on the front line in the clinic, we often see many women preparing for pregnancy carrying enormous stress and uncertainty. From repeated failures to successful pregnancies, from recurrent attempts at maintaining pregnancy to successful live births, this unknown journey is full of anxiety and unease. They make significant efforts to strive for a healthy baby. Many women, unwilling to endure the stress of preparing for pregnancy again, are even willing to take the risk of multiple pregnancies and accept multiple embryo transfers to increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

Pursuing high pregnancy rates while reducing the risk of multiple births has always been an important issue in reproductive medicine. This is why, in addition to continuously refining our techniques, we need diverse perspectives to understand the impact of each step on women's health, and to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue.

High pregnancy rates are an indicator of the success of reproductive technology treatment. However, we also need to consider the physical burden women endure during this process, the risk of complications during pregnancy, and the psychological stress that comes with multiple pregnancies and fetal reduction. From preparing for pregnancy to childbirth, it's a long journey full of uncertainties. Assisting women in alleviating the stress of preparing for pregnancy and safely giving birth to healthy babies is our important responsibility.

I am very pleased that through this event, AnAn IVF can engage in dialogue with experts in different fields such as medical sociology, public health, and law. We need interdisciplinary cooperation to gain more comprehensive perspectives, find better solutions, and ensure that assisted reproduction truly reflects the principles of patient-friendly medical care and prioritizing women's physical and mental health in its technical practice.
 

Yajing Zeng Consultant, AN-AN Art Baby Reproductive Medicine Group
 
Recommended reading: Professor Wu Jia-Ling of the Department of Sociology at National Taiwan University's latest book: MAKING MULTIPLE BABIES: Anticipatory Regimes of Assisted Reproduction.
Free download of the original book:
https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/WuMaking?fbclid=IwAR01HFpPoOIq3SFbh_A2A-lHdxU5_Z9aoKmCm-YbYu2RLz1Ow8bPZqNTEAg