Warning issued over egg freezing Egg freezing should not be offered to women who want to put off having a family purely for lifestyle reasons, say experts.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) warned the procedure was still experimental, and the chances of success poor.
It said it would be wrong to give women a false sense of hope. Instead they should be offered counselling.
However, a UK expert said egg freezing was a valid option for some women.
It is wrong to deprive women of this option, which many of them say is empowering Dr Gillian Lockwood Midland Fertility Services
An increasing number of women are choosing to freeze their eggs for social reasons in the hope they will be able to have a child when they are older.
Critics argue they are delaying motherhood for the wrong motives, such as climbing the career ladder or until they have more money.
Dr Marc Fritz, of the ASRM, said it would be wrong for women who have frozen their eggs to think they had ensured their future fertility.
He said: "Existing medical evidence simply does not justify that conclusion."
The ASRM estimates that the overall live birth rate from frozen eggs is as low as 2% per egg.
It warned the figures may be even lower for women over 35 - the age at which fertility begins to decline rapidly.
Dr Fritz said a 25-year-old woman freezing her eggs now would have more chance of achieving a pregnancy through IVF using her fresh eggs when she was 35.
Successes
At the end of 2006, 185 women in the UK had eggs on ice. Many are cancer patients whose fertility is affected by treatment.
Four babies have been born from egg freezing in the UK - all following treatment at Midland Fertility Services.
Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director, argued success rates using frozen eggs were comparable with those using frozen embryos.
She dissuades older women from freezing their eggs due to low success rates.
But she added: "As long as women know it's not an insurance policy or a guarantee, then it remains an option they may wish to pursue."
"Many of those women have been with commitment-phobic men or have not found Mr Right, or they are part of a couple that needs two salaries to get a mortgage.
"These are social issues but it is wrong to deprive women of this option, which many of them say is empowering."
Caution key
Dr Simon Fishel, of the CARE Fertility Group in Nottingham, agreed it was important to explain to women that egg freezing was experimental, and carried no guarantee of success.
"Although significant research has been undertaken, and babies are being born from these new techniques, caution and counselling are imperative at this stage, and for several years to come."
Josephine Quintavalle, of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said the ASRM had issued "sound advice".
She said: "The best solution to lifestyle problems is to change one's lifestyle.
"Have babies naturally at the time nature intended and give IVF a miss altogether."
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7048361.stmPublished: 2007/10/17 08:07:18 GMT© BBC MMVII
Comment
Delaying motherhood is becoming a major problem because it doesn't work with the biological clock of women's fertility. Now fertility treatment is becoming a million dollar business as the number of women delaying birth increased for different life style reasons: having enough money, finishing college, climbing career ladder, finding 'Mr Right". The best solution is to change your life style and to do it now not latter. Let nature do it instead of the fertility clinics.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils
Middle school in Maine to offer birth control pills, patches to pupils
18/10/2007 2:50:00 AM
PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening.
The plan, offered by city health officials, makes King Middle School the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to students in grades 6 through 8, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
There are no national figures on how many middle schools, where most students range in age from 11 to 13, provide such services.
"It's very rare that middle schools do this," said Divya Mohan, a spokeswoman for the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care.
The Portland School Committee voted 5-2 for the measure.
Chairman John Coynie voted against it, saying he felt providing the birth control was a parental responsibility. The other no vote came from Ben Meiklejohn, who said the consent form does not clearly define the services being offered.
Opponents cited religious and health objections.
Diane Miller said she felt the plan was against religion and against God. Another opponent, Peter Doyle, said he felt it violated the rights of parents and puts students at risk of cancer because of hormones in the pill.
A supporter, Richard Verrier, said it's not enough to depend on parents to protect their children because there may be students who can't discuss things with their parents.
Condoms have been available since 2002 to King students who have parental permission to be treated at its student health centre.
© 2007 Bell Inc., Microsoft Corporation and/or their contributors. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Advertise Privacy Statement About Us
Comment
Can you belive a school provides birth controll pills for girls of 11-13 years old instead of milk? Where and how can we raise our kids in such kind of environment? This is a question to be answered by every person who value morality and religious principles.
18/10/2007 2:50:00 AM
PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health centre after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening.
The plan, offered by city health officials, makes King Middle School the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to students in grades 6 through 8, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
There are no national figures on how many middle schools, where most students range in age from 11 to 13, provide such services.
"It's very rare that middle schools do this," said Divya Mohan, a spokeswoman for the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care.
The Portland School Committee voted 5-2 for the measure.
Chairman John Coynie voted against it, saying he felt providing the birth control was a parental responsibility. The other no vote came from Ben Meiklejohn, who said the consent form does not clearly define the services being offered.
Opponents cited religious and health objections.
Diane Miller said she felt the plan was against religion and against God. Another opponent, Peter Doyle, said he felt it violated the rights of parents and puts students at risk of cancer because of hormones in the pill.
A supporter, Richard Verrier, said it's not enough to depend on parents to protect their children because there may be students who can't discuss things with their parents.
Condoms have been available since 2002 to King students who have parental permission to be treated at its student health centre.
© 2007 Bell Inc., Microsoft Corporation and/or their contributors. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Advertise Privacy Statement About Us
Comment
Can you belive a school provides birth controll pills for girls of 11-13 years old instead of milk? Where and how can we raise our kids in such kind of environment? This is a question to be answered by every person who value morality and religious principles.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Teachers 'fear evolution lessons'
Teachers 'fear evolution lessons' The teaching of evolution is becoming increasingly difficult in UK schools because of the rise of creationism, a leading scientist is warning.
Head of science at London's Institute of Education Professor Michael Reiss says some teachers, fearful of entering the debate, avoid the subject totally.
This could leave pupils with gaps in their scientific knowledge, he says.
Prof Reiss says the rise of creationism is partly down to the large increase in Muslim pupils in UK schools.
The days have long gone when science teachers could ignore creationism when teaching about origins Professor Reiss
He said: "The number of Muslim students has grown considerably in the last 10 to 20 years and a higher proportion of Muslim families do not accept evolutionary theory compared with Christian families.
"That's one reason why it's more of an issue in schools."
Prof Reiss estimates that one in 10 people in the UK now believes in literal interpretations of religious creation stories - whether they are based on the Bible or the Koran.
Many more teachers he met at scientific meetings were telling him they encountered more pupils with creationist views, he said.
"The days have long gone when science teachers could ignore creationism when teaching about origins."
Instead, teachers should tackle the issue head-on, whilst trying not to alienate students, he argues in a new book.
'Not equally valid'
"By not dismissing their beliefs, we can ensure that these students learn what evolutionary theory really says - and give everyone the understanding to respect the views of others," he added.
His book; Teaching about Scientific Origins: Taking Account of Creationism, gives science teachers advice on how to deal with the "dilemma".
Further discussion of creationism should occur in religious education as it is a belief system, not one based on science Hilary Leevers Campaign for Science and Engineering
He supports new government guidelines which say creationism should not be discussed in science classes unless it is raised by pupils.
But Prof Reiss argues that there is an educational value in comparing creationist ideas with scientific theories like Darwin's theory of evolution because they demonstrate how science, unlike religious beliefs, can be tested.
The scientist, who is also a Church of England priest, adds that any teaching should not give the impression that creationism and the theory of evolution are equally valid scientifically.
Dr Hilary Leevers, of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said science teachers would be teaching evolution not creationism and so should not need a book to tell them how to "delicately handle controversy between a scientific theory and a belief".
"The author suggests that science teachers cannot ignore creationism when teaching origins, but the opposite is true," she said.
Teachers could discuss how creationism differed from scientific theory if a student brought up the subject, but any further discussion should occur in religious education lessons, she said.
A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said it had recently published guidelines to teachers on the issue.
"Creationism and intelligent design are not scientific theories nor testable as scientific fact - and have no place in the science curriculum. "But we advise science teachers that when questions about creationism come up in lessons, it provides an opportunity to explain or explore what makes a scientific theory."
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/education/7028639.stmPublished: 2007/10/04 23:28:30 GMT© BBC MMVII
Comment.
As far as the basic Islamic belief is concerned there is no compromise or justification to accept any kind of theory whether it is scientific or nonscientific theory related to the creation of the universe including human being. Muslims pursue knowledge by studying science to understand nature and to use science for betterment of human existence in this world. For the Muslim the study of science starts with the basic belief of creation-the man study what is created. It is every Muslims family responsibility to teach his children that the evolution theory is not acceptable for a beliver.
Head of science at London's Institute of Education Professor Michael Reiss says some teachers, fearful of entering the debate, avoid the subject totally.
This could leave pupils with gaps in their scientific knowledge, he says.
Prof Reiss says the rise of creationism is partly down to the large increase in Muslim pupils in UK schools.
The days have long gone when science teachers could ignore creationism when teaching about origins Professor Reiss
He said: "The number of Muslim students has grown considerably in the last 10 to 20 years and a higher proportion of Muslim families do not accept evolutionary theory compared with Christian families.
"That's one reason why it's more of an issue in schools."
Prof Reiss estimates that one in 10 people in the UK now believes in literal interpretations of religious creation stories - whether they are based on the Bible or the Koran.
Many more teachers he met at scientific meetings were telling him they encountered more pupils with creationist views, he said.
"The days have long gone when science teachers could ignore creationism when teaching about origins."
Instead, teachers should tackle the issue head-on, whilst trying not to alienate students, he argues in a new book.
'Not equally valid'
"By not dismissing their beliefs, we can ensure that these students learn what evolutionary theory really says - and give everyone the understanding to respect the views of others," he added.
His book; Teaching about Scientific Origins: Taking Account of Creationism, gives science teachers advice on how to deal with the "dilemma".
Further discussion of creationism should occur in religious education as it is a belief system, not one based on science Hilary Leevers Campaign for Science and Engineering
He supports new government guidelines which say creationism should not be discussed in science classes unless it is raised by pupils.
But Prof Reiss argues that there is an educational value in comparing creationist ideas with scientific theories like Darwin's theory of evolution because they demonstrate how science, unlike religious beliefs, can be tested.
The scientist, who is also a Church of England priest, adds that any teaching should not give the impression that creationism and the theory of evolution are equally valid scientifically.
Dr Hilary Leevers, of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said science teachers would be teaching evolution not creationism and so should not need a book to tell them how to "delicately handle controversy between a scientific theory and a belief".
"The author suggests that science teachers cannot ignore creationism when teaching origins, but the opposite is true," she said.
Teachers could discuss how creationism differed from scientific theory if a student brought up the subject, but any further discussion should occur in religious education lessons, she said.
A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said it had recently published guidelines to teachers on the issue.
"Creationism and intelligent design are not scientific theories nor testable as scientific fact - and have no place in the science curriculum. "But we advise science teachers that when questions about creationism come up in lessons, it provides an opportunity to explain or explore what makes a scientific theory."
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/education/7028639.stmPublished: 2007/10/04 23:28:30 GMT© BBC MMVII
Comment.
As far as the basic Islamic belief is concerned there is no compromise or justification to accept any kind of theory whether it is scientific or nonscientific theory related to the creation of the universe including human being. Muslims pursue knowledge by studying science to understand nature and to use science for betterment of human existence in this world. For the Muslim the study of science starts with the basic belief of creation-the man study what is created. It is every Muslims family responsibility to teach his children that the evolution theory is not acceptable for a beliver.
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