MIT Technology Review Narrated Inside the strange limbo facing millions of IVF embryos
15 snips
Oct 15, 2025 Frozen embryos are filling storage banks globally, leaving many with an emotional dilemma about their fate. The rise in stored embryos is linked to improved IVF techniques and practices. Conflicting views on the identity of embryos complicate decisions for couples, while strict laws in places like Italy create permanent limbo. Legal disputes around embryo status add to the confusion. Creative solutions like embryo adoption offer a glimmer of hope, but the challenge remains: how to navigate the moral and emotional landscape of these tiny lives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
A Mother's Frozen Choice
- Lisa Holligan underwent multiple miscarriages, used IVF, and eventually had a child named Quinn after frozen embryo transfers.
- She donated abnormal embryos to research and still agonizes over one healthy embryo left in storage.
Scale And Longevity Of Frozen Embryos
- Millions of IVF embryos are frozen globally and their numbers are rising due to better techniques and wider IVF use.
- Improved success rates and vitrification mean embryos can remain viable in storage for decades.
IVF Success Creates Surplus Embryos
- Clinics stimulate ovaries to produce many eggs to maximise chances, creating excess embryos as a byproduct.
- Standard IVF practice produces multiple embryos and only one is typically transferred per attempt.