Whether you expect to become a parent in the near future as a result of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or you simply want to familiarize yourself with the process, it is important to go over a number of issues regarding ART. For example, some people use donor embryos, eggs or sperm. Sometimes a parent knows the donor, while others are anonymous. In some instances, this can result in misunderstanding, and a contract can help clear things up.
Reviewing statistics on ART can help remind you that you are not alone and shed light on the prevalence of these cycles.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that roughly 2% of all births in the U.S. are a result of conceptions achieved through assisted reproductive technology. 2019 saw more than 330,000 ART cycles performed at 448 clinics that reported data. This resulted in the live births of more than 83,000 infants. Over 121,000 ART cycles involved embryo or egg banking during 2019, where the embryos or eggs become frozen for use in the future.
In addition to focusing on success rates and the process of conceiving a child through assisted reproductive technology, you may also need to focus on legal issues related to ART. In the state of Virginia, women who carry babies to term become the legal mother. Every prospective parent is in a unique position, and it could be very important to have a contract in place to avoid confusion or disagreements at a later point.
If you want to help safeguard your rights with an ART agreement, make sure you carefully review and draft the contract while giving careful consideration to state laws.
In my years of practicing law, I've seen many legal changes and their impacts on the lives of my clients. One such change is the Dobbs ruling which has the potential to affect assisted reproductive technologies (ART), particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF).
