Beginnings: of Trimester 3 and of Life
As I walked through the doors of ASU’s Biodesign lab, I thought about beginnings. Here I was, about to start my internship, to have time to work on my research, to transition into my high school class-less Trimester 3. Beginnings bring with them so many new opportunities! But they also bring many changes, and often, challenges. For instance, as a new ASU admit, I can no longer purchase a parking pass as I did over the summer (who knew?), and it’s different not being able to see my friends and teachers every day. Or, for someone trying to add a baby to their family, achieving a pregnancy might just not be happening. That kind of challenge can lead to a whole new kind of beginning: the start of IVF, or in vitro fertilization.
During IVF, egg cells are taken out of a woman’s body and combined with sperm cells in a Petri dish. Then, after an egg is fertilized, the embryo is put into the uterus, and hopefully the woman becomes and stays pregnant! However, a number of issues can complicate this process. Not every egg results in an embryo, not every embryo is able to attach in the uterus to become a pregnancy, and not every pregnancy leads to a live birth. IVF is a difficult, costly, and emotional process, so having it fail at any point can be disheartening. Minimizing factors that may inhibit success is therefore important.
That’s where my research comes in! I’m investigating the link between environmental toxin exposure and IVF outcomes. Environmental toxins are chemicals that can lead to health harm. In this case, I’m looking at all the toxins that may impact the reproductive systems of people undergoing IVF. There haven’t been previous systematic reviews on this topic, despite the rise in IVF as fertility issues increase. Through my study, I hope to provide information that might help a couple succeed with IVF by reducing their exposure to toxins in their everyday lives.
Previously, I used search terms related to IVF and environmental toxins to find studies that may apply in scientific literature databases. This week, I’ve been sorting through those studies using predetermined eligibility criteria. From this process, I’ve found the studies that are actually relevant to my research so I can begin analyzing them.
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