Date of Defense

8-7-2001

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Dr. Ann Miles

Second Advisor

Dr. Gail Landberg

Third Advisor

Dr. Vincent Lyon-Callo

Abstract

I first became interested in infertility treatments when I saw a 20/20 special on two sets of octuplets. The first group was healthy despite being prematurely born. The program raved about the miracle of birth and then contrasted the first group with another group of octuplets; all o fwhom had severe medical problems such as cerebral palsy. The media ploy worked quite well on me. First I was impressed that a woman could have eight healthy babies. Then I was aghast that procedures that seemed so risky were being regularly used to solve infertility problems. I was hooked and wanted to know more. Later that month I was discussing another recent multiple birth with a classmate, he thought the women often reported about in the news had naturally given birth to seven or eight babies. He had no idea that this was not a natural occurrence, but one that could only happen with medical intervention. I wanted to find out what technology was used in multiple births. I found it difficult to believe that these couples intended to have seven or eight babies to take care of at the same time.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Campus Only

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