The Possibility of Artificial Womb Technology and its Ethical Implications

INDONESIANS – Test tube baby technology or In vitro fertilization (IVF) is actually not a new technology. In 1978 a duo of British scientists, Patrick Steptoe and Sir Robert Edwards successfully performed IVF for the first time in the history of medicine. Wallingford blocked Fallopian tube (uterine canal), then with a tool laparoscopy (mini surgical binoculars with a camera) takes the woman’s egg. The husband’s sperm cells that have been washed (sterile), extracted and then added to the cup petri dish containing the egg to trigger fertilization. The process of fertilization to produce an embryo that is ready to be implanted in the mother’s womb takes three weeks. Over the past four decades the IVF process has experienced many developments and has helped millions of couples. The goal is that both parents (with conditions not allowing them to have children) have the opportunity to have children.

In subsequent developments, the idea emerged to create an artificial uterus (artificial womb) sounds like science fiction, but can we really make it? As we know the uterus (uterus) is a specific and complicated organ that is owned by women. This organ is where all embryos go through their early life, interact with their mothers, and develop into babies ready to be born. The IVF process only helps to carry out fertilization outside the womb (in-vitro), but what happens if the embryo develops into a fetus for 40 weeks actually in the laboratory? This is a pretty crazy challenge for scientists.

As time goes on, we are getting closer to “growing” a baby (fully) outside the human body. Sounds quite terrible and violates nature. It does seem to run counter to medical ethics, and should be avoided by scientists. However, many consequences must be prepared if the plan is actually realized.

Also read: Challenges for the Future of the Medical World in the Hands of Artificial Intelligence

Two main things that need to be developed, biotechnology (network engineering) and nanotechnology (to facilitate micro-scale interactions and artificial growth of fetal cells). Sophisticated computer systems must also be developed to track the growth progress of the fetus, while automatically adjusting to its changing conditions.

The artificial uterus is a super incubator. Functional artificial wombs are much more complex than structural incubator which has been used in the nursery (neonates). The incubator is a transparent box-shaped tool that supplies oxygen to the baby, warms the baby, gives hydration and nutrition (by infusion or gastric tube). Usually incubators are used by premature babies with very low birth weight (BBSLR).

Under the best conditions, it is not possible for a baby to live outside the mother’s womb until the end of the second trimester (27 weeks’ gestation). Less than that, the mother’s womb is the only choice where the fetus develops. Future incubators must be fully functional, and push boundaries viability (ability to develop) the fetus until the entire cycle of pregnancy can occur outside the human body (although it sounds implausible).

The human womb contains endometrium, these are the cells of the inner wall of the uterus. To match its function, the artificial uterine lining must be made to resemble the original uterine wall. For prototype artificial uterus, it is more useful if it mimics every step of the pregnancy process as much as possible. Later versions can be naturally designed and then optimized. For this reason, the artificial uterine lining should not be made of glass or metal, but instead consist of a layer of glands made of real tissue. Embryo in phase blastocyst (which is made by IVF), when it is 3-4 millimeters implanted into the uterine wall where it takes root and continues to grow.