Fertility Doctor speaks out on protecting IVF treatment

(WTVQ) — The recent decision in Alabama over embryos, causing concern nationwide.

The Alabama House and Senate, passing legislation to restore access to in vitro fertilization this week.

One nearby fertility expert, believes the choice of expanding a family and how they do it should be left to families.

Thomas Burwinkel MD, has been a fertility doctor for decades and says he’s seen a steady increase in patients over the years, but it didn’t come easily.
He says just the thought of IVF was so taboo, let alone the stigma that can come along with seeing a fertility doctor.

Various lawmakers in Kentucky have introduced bills to protect IVF rights in the state.

“IVF is a way for couples to conceive. by artificial means, and typically what it involves is taking fertility medications, to have the women produce extra eggs, then those are collected and fertilized with partner sperm, and we grow the embryos up,” says Dr. Burwinkel.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruling embryos are considered children.
Fertility Doctor Thomas Burwinkel has been practicing for decades a profession that he says was not as popular but rather was seen as taboo.

“After an egg gets fertilized that the cells divide, and they they go and continues to divide for several days, and they can grow up to about 120-250 cells during that period of time. At that point of development, we call it a blastocyst, it either has to implant into the woman’s uterus, or it has to be frozen. If you don’t do anything with it, then it will try to attach to the culture dish. And since it doesn’t have any support, it will die at that point. But there’s no heartbeat, there’s no head, there’s no body, there are no arms or legs or fingers,” he added.

Dr. Burwinkel believes calling an embryo an unborn child and giving it the same legal rights, creates issues with what he does as a physician.

“I’ve already heard medical students, I’ve heard resonance that are looking at going to other states to practice medicine in other states that are more favorable to doing IVF or other women’s reproductive rights issues,” he also says.

He also sends a message to those who see it as a positive the actions in Alabama.

“Let’s work together to make the best decisions for the patient. Let’s keep politicians out of these conversations. And that’s, that’s the biggest thing. I’m not there, trying to tell them how to do their jobs. I hope they can let us do our jobs,” said Dr. Burwinkel.

Another bill introduced HB 757, that would protect IVF, but also declare that a fertilized human egg or embryo outside the uterus, would not be considered an unborn child.