Healthcare

Biography

Biography: Richard Dickey

Abstract

Population expansion is a major concern of all countries and governments. Effort to limit growth often results in the consequence that when pregnancy is desired women may not be able to conceive. Modern technologies, Ovulation Induction [OI] and In Vitro Fertilization [IVF], egg or embryo freezing, and even older methods of infertility treatment like clomiphene often result in multiple pregnancies. Choice of birth control method and intelligent use of infertility treatment are essential components of population growth management. Hormonal and mechanical methods to prevent pregnancy and birth can adversly affect future fertility in different ways. The main cause of infertility following delay in child bearing is age. The biological clock is real. Even the most advanced methods may often are not successful after age 38 and are associated with twining rates of 10 to 30% and triplet or higher order births of 0.5 to 20% before age 38. Embryo cryopreservation is very successful and egg cryopreservation is becoming more so, but are not practical when applied to large populations. Selection of safe and effective birth control methods when future fertility is desired, and correction of medical and weight disorders followed by mild ovarian stimulation with clomiphene and similiar drugs instead of IVF are the prefered route to birth of a single healthy child. IVF should be reserved for severe male infertility, fallopian tube obstruction, preservation of reproductive ability before cancer treatment, medically indicated preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and to prevent triplet and higher order births when using gonadotropins in women at high risk for multiple pregnancies.