In the United States, some 10% of people who wish to have children struggle with infertility. It's especially common in the African American community, and fertility preservation can be difficult for transgender individuals as well. But why is this? And what can be done about it? NOVA follows the journeys of people facing barriers to fertility, from the social to the biological, and navigating assisted reproductive technologies. Scientists and leaders in the African American community explore how racism contributes to infertility. Couples using IVF experience the challenges of low sperm count, egg freezing, and the ambiguity of "mosaic" embryos. And a transgender man explores fertility preservation, and his ability to give birth and create the family he hadn't thought possible. The pain and joys of each story highlight the complexity of infertility in America, where both groundbreaking science and stark inequalities shape what it means to have a family.
My Thoughts
Infertility is a struggle many couples face when they are trying to conceive. Science has come a long way and this documentary delves how difficult fertility is to achieve, especially for minorities and the transgender community. Not only does this DVD teach us about the fertility process, but explains how racism effects the ability to conceive. In addition, we follow a transgender man's quest to have a child.
If you want to learn about fertility from a few different perspectives, this is an excellent lesson. If you want to grab a copy of this educational documentary for yourself, you can find it online at PBS.org or Amazon.
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