HUMANO / FABIOLA CEDILLO

I was searching for potential sperm donors on the internet, and when I filled out the requirements fields, one of them was that the donor and I should be very similar physically and be of Latino ethnicity.

I remembered the phrase: "A perfect clone of their only biological parent." In reality, most single mothers seek their children to resemble them and look for donors with similar characteristics or even lighter skin.

In the current digital era, the internet has opened new opportunities for people seeking sperm donors. By browsing through various websites and platforms dedicated to sperm donation, individuals can access a wealth of information about potential donors. They can consider factors such as physical attributes, ethnicity, medical history, and personal backgrounds to find a donor who closely matches their preferences and desires.

"When I took the photograph of Andrés, Lea, and Veronica, I asked them what name they would give to this picture. They said 'The Donation,' and Lea suggested describing the photo as 'Love and friendship creating a family: Andrés, Lea, and Vero united in the beautiful gift of sperm donation and shared motherhood.'

I feel that no further words are needed."

Oocytes have become commodities that are harvested, bought, donated, and preserved. Recognizing that oocytes are among the most complex cells in the body, and that they are difficult to observe with the naked eye and impossible to generate more of inside the body, it is understood that as a woman ages, both the quantity and quality of her oocytes decline. This is why nowadays gynecologists advise their patients to freeze their oocytes before their ovarian reserve becomes depleted.

Currently, women are experiencing their first pregnancy at older ages compared to previous decades. However, despite this shift in motherhood, the age at which women experience a significant decline in fertility has not changed. Around the age of forty-five, the chances of conceiving naturally without assisted reproductive technology are extremely low. It is evident that technology is extending the lifespan, but reproductive desires are not necessarily aligning with the emotional, economic, and social development of individuals and new generations.

"Some children do not imagine the circumstances of their conception or their biological origin."

In the image, a nurse holds a silver briefcase containing gynecological instruments, reminding us that the conception of a child can be surrounded by complexities and circumstances that are not easily visible. Not all children have knowledge or awareness of the conditions in which they were conceived, nor do they know their complete biological origin.

The image of cryopreserved zygotes inside a freezer leads us to reflect on the power of science and technology in the preservation of human life. Just like the stork searching for its children in the frozen pool, cryopreservation of zygotes offers hope and possibilities to those who wish to build a family.

Equipment details, BioGEPA Fertility Clinic.

The United Nations estimated that in 2019, nearly half of the world's population resided in countries with fertility rates below the replacement level, defined as fewer than 2 children per woman. It is important to note that in developed countries, population growth is also driven by immigration.

While global population growth is projected to stabilize by the mid-2080s, economists warn that demographic aging in countries with fewer children could impact continued economic growth, the provision of healthcare, and the funding of pension systems. While the decline in the world population also brings social and environmental benefits, many countries are recognizing the need to take an active approach to the challenges of fertility.

Since the first successful in vitro fertilization in 1978, where the conception of an embryo outside the body was achieved, we have witnessed extraordinary advancements. Currently, approximately two percent of all babies in the United States, for instance, are conceived in laboratories through the technique of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The growth of this market has been astounding, with analysts valuing its industry at over twenty-three billion dollars last year. This remarkable progress reflects the power of science and technology to open new possibilities in the field of human reproduction.

In the past, our association with pregnancy has always been with women. However, nowadays we are witnessing men (transgender) who can also become pregnant. This change challenges our traditional conceptions of reproduction and opens the door to new scientific possibilities.

Scientists are investigating and exploring the possibility that gestation could eventually occur outside the human body. Advanced techniques are being researched that could allow for the creation of eggs from a simple biopsy or blood sample, whether from biologically male or female individuals. This could further revolutionize our understanding and practice of human reproduction.

Usually, women who seek sperm donors and have chosen to be single mothers often identify with Antonella's words: "I was very focused on my career, and my romantic life developed late. Having a partner or a family was never a priority for me. However, after the death of my mother, I found myself alone. I have no siblings, and I thought that having a biological child could ensure that my family legacy continues and that something of us remains in this world. Additionally, now that I have achieved what I wanted professionally, I feel I have a lot of energy to give."

In a supportive gesture, Antonella gives María a rue plant, which is well-known in Ecuador as a plant used for inducing abortion. As they discuss abortion laws in Latin America, they also contemplate the importance of making egg and sperm donations more affordable in Ecuador.

When I was at the fertility clinic researching about egg freezing, my friend Ana María accompanied me. She told me that since she was a little girl, she had dreamed of getting married in a white dress and having children. It was only during that visit to the fertility clinic that she learned about the possibility of freezing her eggs. She is currently single, 38 years old, and spoke about freezing her eggs as a method to alleviate future concerns.

After leaving the clinic, we passed by a store selling dresses for girls who were going to be baptized. It struck me to think that the idea of wearing a wedding dress is instilled in girls from a young age, and the desire for motherhood is ingrained in women since childhood.

Regarding a North American scientist, something she said made sense to me after hearing Ana María's story: "If the process of egg freezing becomes easier and more reliable, there is hope that women could undergo IVF with fewer side effects, less clinical time, and at a lower cost, perhaps even through egg freezing kiosks. It almost resembles an extension of the beauty industry, where being proactive about one's reproduction and longevity appears as an act of self-care."

While taking photographs of Leonor, she sits on a table and inflates her belly, telling me that since she was a child, she was given a doll and was raised to care for it. She wants to be portrayed as if she were pregnant, as her dream is still to have a home, a husband, be pregnant, and have children.

It is common in Latin America and in many parts of the world, especially in less developed regions, to continue dreaming of the traditional family and placing children at the center of a relationship.

Science fiction has contributed a lot to science and medicine, and it cannot be ruled out that some of these speculations about scientific and technological advancements that could allow the creation of embryos with DNA from four people instead of two could become a reality. This idea raises the possibility of combining different sets of genetic material to obtain specific characteristics or prevent hereditary diseases.

Another futuristic hypothesis is the idea of the "unibaby" or asexual reproduction, in which a person could conceive and give birth to a child without the need for a partner. This theory suggests that human reproduction could occur through artificial biological processes or cloning techniques (which we already know are possible), allowing a person to reproduce with themselves, regardless of their sex.

It is important to note that these ideas are still in the realm of speculation and science fiction. However, it raises the question of whether they are far from becoming a reality when, in today's world, assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization and genetic embryo selection already offer options and opportunities for conception and the prevention of genetic diseases. Now, alongside this technological evolution, ethical, legal, social, and human rights aspects are also evolving with regards to the individuals involved?

In the book "The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction" published in 2016, bioethicist Henry Greely from Stanford University raises the possibility of deriving mature human eggs from a person's skin cells. According to Greely, this revolutionary technique would eliminate a significant portion of the costs, discomfort, and risks associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Greely also mentions that the new techniques for producing stem cells, which were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2012, could play a crucial role in this process.

The author predicts that within the next twenty to forty years, sex will no longer be the primary method by which most people conceive children, at least among those with access to good healthcare coverage. This assertion presents a future scenario in which human reproduction will be transformed by scientific and technological advancements, offering innovative alternatives for conception. 

Infertility is a problem that affects one out of every six couples and compromises several aspects of the lives of those who wish to conceive. According to experts, the increase of this pathology could be due to four factors: postponement of the moment in which the decision to have children is made, alterations in the quality of semen due to habits such as smoking and alcohol, diet and overweight and psychological stress.

Despite technological advances in other fields, research and development in women's health have historically been underfunded. As we enter the 21st century, it is disappointing to see that a significant portion of our contraceptives and fertility treatments were developed in the previous century, with little innovation since the 1980s. This lack of progress highlights the urgent need to invest in research and medical advancements that address the specific needs of women. Now, we hear about multimillion-dollar investments in research on generating gestation outside the body or creating eggs, but these endeavors are not truly focused on women's fertility research; rather, they center on reproduction, sometimes excluding women altogether.

In the image, a young person in the midst of their transition and with the desire to be a woman and have children holds a female mannequin, symbolizing their search for identity and their longing for motherhood.

Matt Krisiloff, co-founder of Conception, is a prominent figure in the field of reproduction. His company specializes in converting stem cells into human eggs, as mentioned on their website: "Turning stem cells into human eggs".

At the cellular level, the concept of "body" can become abstract, as highlighted by the statement that "you don't actually need a heart to produce an egg". It is possible that the maturation process of an egg within the body may not require the usual twelve or thirteen years.

It is important to reflect on Matt's words in an interview with a New York newspaper: "We must be aware that we are developing a technology that, if successful, will have a direct impact on the creation of new human life". 

In the context technological advancements and human reproduction, it is common to hear stories of individuals who are desperate to have biological children volunteering to donate their genetic material or participate in clinical trials to test technologies that may still be years away.

Josefa and her partner have undergone several in vitro procedures, resulting in the creation of multiple embryos. Once Josefa successfully became pregnant, the remaining embryos were donated to science.

Adolescence, one of the most transformative stages of life. It is a crucial time in a woman's reproductive cycle and marks the beginning of her ability to conceive in the future.

Human eggs begin their formation within the fetal ovaries in the womb, but it is during adolescence, at the onset of menstruation, that they begin to mature individually.

Daniela wants to freeze her remaining eggs. She wants to become a mother after finishing her first movie, and she feels that her biological clock is not waiting. Daniela's partner is 57 years old, and despite having less energy and vitality than Daniela, he could conceive whenever he wants. Daniela knows that research on women's reproductive health has not received much investment and is not of interest to laboratories unless they can profit from this "disadvantage."

Biologists have proposed various theories, although none of them has been conclusive, to explain why women experience a significant decline in fertility in middle age and why ovaries age at least twice as fast as other organs in the body. These theories explore the complex interaction between evolution and the female body, aiming to better understand the biological mechanisms behind these phenomena.