I will first say that I am a Reproductive Endocrinologist in the U.S. This story makes me want to vomit. I recognize the desire for family balancing – equal boys and girls, one cat, one dog, white picket fence etc. – but this story depicts the exact reason why technology in our specialty needs to be limited to some degree. Just because we can select gender at the time of IVF doesn’t mean it’s right. This couple aborted a viable twin pregnancy because they were boys. They didn’t have some genetic disease – just a Y chromosome – just. .. .boys.
We have a wonderful counselor who is available to all of our patients to discuss all of their concerns while going through infertility treatment. Many times, just counseling can help couples realize their “desire” for a specific gender should not supersede their desire just to be parents. I doubt the couple in the story had such counseling. I doubt they thought about anything except their own selfish wants for a girl.
I struggle as a parent on a weekly basis [understandable as I have two teens and one 11 yo]. I never have thought at anytime that their inherent gender had any real impact on what kind of person they are becoming and what they will contribute to this world. I know many docs in my specialty feel that gender selection is appropriate and should be left to the parents. I just disagree. (and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine also disagrees) Technology should be utilized to improve our health, to eradicate disease and to minimize suffering. To terminate a pregnancy just because of the gender just makes me sick.