Introduction
Some couples struggle to have a baby. If the woman still hasn’t become pregnant after two years of trying, their doctor will carry out checks on their reproductive systems to try and identify any problems. Some couples are offered IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) treatment to help them have a baby.
In this activity you will use your research skills to find out about:
- what IVF is
- who may have IVF treatment
- what happens during IVF treatment
- risks associated with IVF treatment.
You will use your literacy skills to produce a leaflet that can be given to patients who are thinking about having IVF treatment.
Task
You are going to produce a leaflet that doctors can hand out to patients who are thinking about having IVF treatment.
Your leaflet should:
- describe how IVF treatment works
- state the medical conditions which IVF can overcome
- provide information on the benefits and risks of IVF treatment
- include an overview of what happens during IVF treatment
- be made from one sheet of A4 paper - it can be two-sided
- use appropriate language that can be understood by people who have no medical
or scientific knowledge.
Process
Step 1
Research the following topics:
- what IVF is
- why it may be recommended/who may benefit from IVF
- what happens during IVF treatment
- risks associated with IVF treatment
Step 2 (extension)
Some people are concerned that IVF treatment could lead to couples choosing to have ‘designer babies’. Carry out some research to find out what is meant by the term ‘designer baby’. Use examples to show what it means. Consider what other ethical issues surround IVF treatment and carry out some further research into these issues.
Step 3
Plan appropriate sub-headings to structure your leaflet and decide on the important information you want to include.
Step 4
Make your leaflet. This can be done on a computer using programs like Word, PowerPoint or Publisher. There are also free online tools you could use such as flipsnack.com (this has pre-designed leaflet templates on). You could also make it by hand and take a photo to submit.
Sources
IVF treatment
These websites contains information on what happens during IVF treatment, and risks.
https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf/
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/IVF/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Why IVF?
These websites contain information on conditions that could lead to IVF being recommended to couples, what happens during IVF treatment, and associated risks.
www.babycentre.co.uk/a4094/fertility-treatment-in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf
www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/f/assisted-conception
‘Designer babies’ (extension)
This website introduces the concept of a ‘designer baby’.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z7jmyrd/revision/1
Other ethical issues (extension)
These articles outline some other potential ethical issues surrounding IVF treatment.
https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~mcclean/plsc431/students98/christenson.htm
Evaluation
You have now made a leaflet that doctors can hand out to patients who are thinking about having IVF treatment. Look at the questions below, and check that you have met the brief.
- Have you described how IVF treatment works?
- Have you stated why IVF may be recommended/who may benefit from IVF?
- Have you provided information on the benefits and risks of IVF treatment?
- Have you included an overview of what happens during IVF treatment?
- Is your leaflet made of one sheet of A4 paper?
- Have you used appropriate language that can be understood by people who have no medical or scientific knowledge?